Aston Villa Pursue Rafael Leao Amid Watkins Uncertainty
Aston Villa have made their move for Rafael Leao, opening talks with AC Milan over a deal for the Portugal international as Unai Emery scrambles to rebuild a forward line stripped of its stars.
Sources in Italy say Villa’s interest is serious. Milan and Villa are now in direct contact and negotiating, with all sides working against the clock to find an agreement before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
Crucially, Leao is understood to be open to the switch.
Villa turn to Leao as attack unravels
Villa’s need could hardly be clearer. The 4-0 collapse at Brighton laid it bare. With Ollie Watkins absent amid uncertainty over his future and both Tammy Abraham and 17-year-old Brian Madjo injured, Emery was forced to push Emi Buendia and Ross Barkley into makeshift roles up front. The result was as chaotic as it sounded.
This is a squad that only recently carried the swagger of Europa League winners. Now it looks stripped back. Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all gone. Watkins and Emiliano Martinez could yet follow.
Villa need more than numbers. They need a new focal point.
Leao, 27, offers exactly that kind of presence. He scored nine goals and supplied three assists in 29 Serie A appearances last season, operating either through the middle or off the left. That versatility is central to Villa’s thinking.
Rogers’ departure left a hole not just in goals, but in flexibility. Emery wants a forward who can lead the line, drop into pockets as a second striker, or attack from wide and drive at defenders. Leao ticks each of those boxes. His ability to carry the ball at pace, commit opponents and threaten from different zones mirrors much of what Rogers brought to the side.
His stock has dipped in recent seasons, but Emery has already shown what he can do with talented forwards in need of a reset. Look at the jump in level from Morgan Rogers. Look at the transformation in Ollie Watkins’ career trajectory.
Watkins cloud lingers as Al Hilal circle
All of this plays out against the backdrop of Watkins’ unresolved future.
Sky Sports News reported that Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal are in talks to sign the England striker and have already seen at least one bid rejected. Watkins was left out of the squad entirely for the defeat at Brighton, a decision that only intensified speculation.
Asked after the game why his main striker was missing, Emery’s answer to Sky Sports was pointed and brief: “Ask him. I only can answer it by silence.”
Reports since then have suggested Watkins returned to training on Monday and apologised to his team-mates for his absence. The situation remains delicate. Until it is resolved, Villa cannot gamble on standing still in the market.
Champions League lure and a fresh stage for Leao
For Leao, the move carries its own appeal. Villa can offer Champions League football, a prominent role in the starting XI and a platform in the Premier League to relaunch a career that once had him tipped among Europe’s elite wide forwards.
At Milan he climbed through the ranks and flourished, helped by experienced team-mates and a stable environment. Then the picture changed. Managers came and went. Tactical demands shifted. His role moved with them. Consistency suffered.
A defined role under Emery, in a team built around his strengths, could change that.
Former AC Milan and Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who played with Leao, believes the fit is obvious.
“This wouldn't be good news, it'd be great news for Villa fans! Rafael Leao would be an incredible signing,” he told Sky Sports. “I have played with him. I have seen the potential, pace, power and skill.
“He will be super suited to the Premier League. His game, the talent he has and the physical attributes he has will suit the Premier League.
“At Milan, he came through the ranks and really developed. He had good senior players and had consistency. Things started to change, a lot of managers started to change. It hasn't helped his consistency. Everyone has played him slightly differently. Look at Unai Emery and what he has done to some of the players at Aston Villa.
“Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, taking their careers to the next level. Rafael Leao, working with Emery and getting the opportunity to be the main player at Villa, it would be huge.”
Huge is exactly what Villa need right now. With Deadline Day closing in and key figures already gone, this deal is no luxury. It’s a test of whether Villa can turn a summer of upheaval into the foundation for their next step up.
