Monchi ‘plans Samu Aghehowa talks’ in £41m Aston Villa transfer boost
Monchi is already looking at strengthening Aston Villa’s attack this summer, with a new update emerging on Porto gem Samu Aghehowa.
Monchi’s arrival at Villa Park in mid-2023 has coincided with a defining period in the club’s history on and off the pitch; his signings helping Villa to reach the Champions League for the first time since 1984.
The 56-year-old Spaniard has overseen Villa’s acquisitions of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Morgan Rogers – just three of the players who have helped make Unai Emery’s side an attractive destination.
The 2025 winter transfer window saw plenty of movement in the attacking department with Jhon Duran leaving, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio arriving on loan, yet Monchi is already on the hunt for more.
Aghehowa pursuit planned behind the scenes at Aston Villa
Although Villa have an option to buy on Rashford’s loan deal and can extend Asensio’s into a second season if they wish to, Monchi wants to add a permanent, out-and-out striker in the mould of Duran.
As a result, Sky Sport.ch journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported on 3 March that Monchi and Villa’s higher-ups want to set up a remote meeting with Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, with a view to signing him.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| Ollie Watkins | 38 | 37 | 13 | 11 |
| Samu Aghehowa | 32 | 32 | 20 | 3 |
Monchi is leading the charge for the Spain international and hopes to establish direct contract between Emery and Aghehowa, who has scored 20 goals and added three assists in his first season at Porto.
The Portuguese side, however, are set to refuse anything less than £41million for the 20-year-old, but Villa “seem to have taken the lead” in the race to sign him despite being yet to submit a formal offer.
Aston Villa identify perfect Ollie Watkins successor
Though Villa are hardly short of options in attack with Watkins supported by Rashford, Asensio, Rogers and Jacob Ramsey in the frontline, things could look very different at the start of next season.
Despite their impressive starts, there’s no guarantees that Rashford and Asensio will still be playing in claret and blue next term, particularly if Villa miss out on qualifying for the Champions League again.
That would leave them at a disadvantage when it comes to signing the likes of Aghehowa, but with Villa reportedly leading the race to sign him and Watkins turning 30 this year, it’s a move which makes sense.
Watkins’ output only increased amid competition with Duran for the first half of this season, and bringing in Aghehowa to provide an alternative striker could see both players improve even further.