Report: Aston Villa now want to sign £29m Barcelona target Unai Emery thinks is going to be a star

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Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle United want to sign promising forward Nicolas Jackson from Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal.

Villa have of course taken Unai Emery from the Yellow Submarine’s dugout, and the Daily Mail report he is already plotting a raid on his previous employers.

The Toffees are also sniffing around as they look to add more pace and quality to their burgeoning frontline under Frank Lampard.

Newcastle of course flirted with appointing Emery before getting Eddie Howe, and could still do with a wideman to bolster their options.

Villa, Everton and Newcastle want Jackson

Emery said about the Villa target earlier this year: “Nicolas Jackson is doing a very good job with the B team.

“He is a player with an interesting style of play.

“We will see how we can help him and what he can bring to us.

“He can play in different attacking positions.”

“Now that he is free of injuries it is up to him to earn his place in the first team and show the extent of his talent.

“He has a lot of room for improvement and could well be one of the next stars of Senegal.

“His progress is to be followed.”

Jackson has a £29 million release clause, but the report says that Jackson is out of contract at the end of the season, which will further pique the interest of potential suitors.

Barcelona are named in the report as another interested club, and they have made a habit of targeting free transfers in recent windows.

Jackson could sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club at the start of 2023, and he may well fancy a reunion with Emery at Villa Park.

It could be a good race for the forward in the months ahead, with Emery perhaps thinking he gives Villa the edge, but Newcastle just beat them 4-0, and may look more enticing to potential new players right now.