Aston Villa nears agreement as £60m Nicolas Jackson latest emerges

Aston Villa's chances of signing Nicolas Jackson look to have taken a leap forward.

The Villans have identified the Chelsea striker as their replacement for Ollie Watkins.

The latter is pushing for a move for Al-Hilal, and missed out on the B6 side's Premier League opener with Brighton.

Jackson has emerged as Unai Emery's priority in recent days, as it became clear that Watkins' future was away from Villa Park.

The Saudi side have reportedly reached an agreement over a move for Watkins, with only the formalities left to sort.

Now, a new update on Jackson has been shared and it suggests that there is only one obstacle for the Europa League winners.

What is the latest on Nicolas Jackson's move to Aston Villa?

The Villans' move for Jackson looks to be heading in the right direction.

Fabrizio Romano claimed on Wednesday that Villa have "almost closed" an agreement on personal terms with the 25-year-old.

His report stated that Emery is pushing for his signature, and club to club talks have started with the Stamford Bridge side.

It is understood that the total package will be over £60million.

Why does Emery want Jackson so bad?

Many supporters may question the signature of Jackson, considering his recent goal record.

He notched 11 goals in 34 games on loan at Bayern Munich last season and his time at Chelsea has not exactly been a success.

He managed 30 strikes in 81 matches for the Blues, which is solid but not spectacular.

However, his time working with Emery previously at Villarreal may play a part.

Jackson credits the Villa boss for making him into the player that he is now, after his time with the Spanish side.

He said: "Unai taught me everything about football.

"When I was from Senegal, I knew how to play but I did not understand how to run on the pitch. I was just running like crazy, taking the ball and just dribbling, making my own stuff.

"He changed all that and made me into a different kind of player."

Emery also clearly rates the Senegal ace, as he was full of praise in his final game with the La Liga side.

He said: "He has to evolve so that his work for the team can be transformed into effectiveness."

It seems like the B6 boss is the best man to get Jackson back to his highest level, so it could be a move that works out for all parties, if he can start scoring regularly.

The numbers may suggest that is a gamble, but Jackson is not an unknown quantity to Emery, who can bring the best out of him.