Aston Villa are expected to accelerate their efforts to secure a new forward for Unai Emery's squad after they sanctioned the sale of Jaden Philogene for the second time in three years. Philogene is on his way out of Villa, having initially left for Hull City in 2023 before returning in the summer after excelling in the Championship.

The winger is heading to Premier League rivals Ipswich Town, who were keen on bringing him to Portman Road in the summer before Villa acted, and his sale is expected to bank the Lions north of £20m. Philogene made only three starts in his second stint at Villa, one of those being in the famous Champions League win over Bayern Munich. He was sent off in the win at Fulham.

Villa, who had already devised plans to add to their squad within their PSR remits this month, will now press on with bringing in an attacking reinforcement to complement the likes of Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia, who operate just behind the centre forward.

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Reports coming out of Italy suggest that Villa's interest in AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze remains live; Nigerian international Chukwueze only signed for Milan from Villarreal - where he'd worked previously under Emery - in the summer of 2023, but he hasn't been able to replicate his La Liga form in Serie A. Milan, it's claimed, are willing to allow him to leave.

Chukwueze, who has scored just two goals in Italy's top flight in 41 appearances, hasn't been able to displace former Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic in the attack and, as a consequence, could leave this month. Italian press report that Villa's interest is 'still present' and that Emery is open to being reunited with his former Villarreal star.

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