Aston Villa Set to Sign Ibrahim Mbaye for £47m

Aston Villa have struck a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign highly rated winger Ibrahim Mbaye in a deal worth around £47m, as Unai Emery’s rebuild gathers yet more pace and edge.

Villa moved decisively for the 18-year-old after missing out on AC Milan forward Rafa Leao, who is heading to Galatasaray. Mbaye had been on Premier League radars for months – Sky Sports News revealed in March that Villa were among the clubs weighing up a move – and Liverpool also explored a transfer earlier this summer before switching their attention to his PSG teammate Bradley Barcola.

Villa, though, stayed on Mbaye and now look set to get their man.

Villa turn to Mbaye in turbulent summer

Mbaye operates mainly off the right flank and brings directness and promise rather than a finished article. Last season he made 24 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG, scoring three times and providing two assists. Not eye-watering numbers, but enough to hint at serious upside for a teenager breaking into a star-studded squad.

His arrival comes in the middle of a summer of churn at Villa Park.

• Youri Tielemans
• Morgan Rogers
• Ezri Konsa
• Lucas Digne

Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez also appear to be heading for the exit, ripping out key pillars from the side that powered Villa into the Premier League’s top bracket under Emery.

The response has been aggressive. Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri have all come through the door. A deal has been agreed to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, and now Mbaye is set to join that influx of fresh faces.

Emery insists the upheaval is calculated, not chaotic.

“We took some decisions because it's good for the club. We tried to compete as good as possible, but some situations are clear,” he said ahead of Villa’s clash with Arsenal on Monday Night Football.

“It's the right way and decision. We don't want to be a club to sell players, but our responsibility is there. For the club it's a good deal.

“It's not changing our priorities to be competitive. We must be the same. Strong development with the players.

“I am confident and positive. The players we are signing are good players. We need to get balance with experience and players with huge potential.

“Of course, I want to keep some players, the ones who help us to be successful. But I accept it because I have experience before in the same situation.

“I expect to continue to do special and different ways. The objective is to get progressively in the same way. We will need time.”

Time, though, is exactly what the transfer window does not offer.

Watkins out, Jackson in – and a new attack takes shape

The most emotional break has come up front. Emery confirmed that Watkins is leaving for Al Hilal in a £50m move, a transfer that ends the striker’s influential spell at Villa.

The manager revealed Watkins apologised after missing the defeat to Brighton, admitting the forward “made a mistake”.

“Watkins said sorry after Brighton. He made a mistake. He always had good behaviour in the club and with me. He's a fantastic guy. I told him 'bye', with a huge hug and a small cry.

“Now it's a new chapter with Nicolas Jackson. Of course, all the best for him in Saudi. We are replacing him.”

Villa have lined up Jackson as Watkins’ successor, with a £65m deal close to completion after the Chelsea forward underwent his medical on Thursday. Asked if Jackson could be registered in time to feature against Arsenal on Monday, Emery replied: “Hopefully.”

So a new front line is forming. Jackson through the middle. Mbaye poised to attack from the right. Garnacho offering electricity from the left. Behind them, the experience of Goretzka and the steel of Gomes. Around them, Wan-Bissaka and Ruggeri reshaping the defensive edges.

Emery calls it balance – experience blended with “huge potential”. Villa fans will call it something else entirely if this bold overhaul keeps them punching at the top end of the Premier League.

The squad that stunned the league last season is being dismantled and rebuilt in real time. The question now is simple: can this new-look Villa grow quickly enough to keep pace with Emery’s ambition?