Unai Emery is hopeful Nicolas Jackson will complete his £47.5m move from Chelsea in time to make his Aston Villa debut against Arsenal on Monday and said his striker’s imminent arrival will mark a “new chapter” at the club.

Jackson was Emery’s No 1 target to replace Ollie Watkins, who declined the offer of a new contract in favour of a £50m move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Both deals are yet to be formally confirmed. The one for Jackson could rise to a club-record £65m with add-ons. Emery said Watkins’s departure reduced him to tears and revealed the England striker apologised to him and his teammates for refusing to play in the 4-0 defeat at Brighton last weekend, leaving Villa without a recognise striker.

“I can tell you his commitment and his behaviour was fantastic always,” Emery said. “He told us after the match he was sorry and he told us that he made a mistake, that he was wrong. We accepted it, the players as well, because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club, with us and with me.


“For me, he is a fantastic guy, an even more fantastic a guy than a player. I told him bye with a huge hug and a small tear but now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson. A new chapter, we replace him and of course all the best to Watkins in Saudi. With Nicolas Jackson replacing him, we are of course happy.”

Emery dismissed the idea that the manner of Watkins’s departure could tarnish his standing among supporters. Watkins is Villa’s record goalscorer in the Premier League era, with 91 goals across 221 league appearances. “The four years working with him have been a high-level relationship with him as a professional,” Emery added. “Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now clearOne mistake is not closing all the good things he did here. For the supporters as well. He is class, and I think it’s a legacy here.”

Emery said the £50m fees generated for Watkins, who will be 31 in December, and Konsa, who turns 29 in October, were “crazy” given their ages. “We don’t want to be a club to sell players, but the responsibility is to accept it … because for the club it is a good deal. It does not change our objectives.”

Emery acknowledged his side must perform much better against Arsenal than did against Brighton to avoid a second successive defeat. Leon Goretzka, who signed from Bayern Munich on Thursday, could make his debut against the champions, while Zion Suzuki could also feature for the first time after his £30m move from Parma, replacing Emiliano Martínez who is close to completing a £7.5m move to Chelsea.

“Maybe we are not performing like we were performing but the objective is to get to the same way we did, the same performances we had,” said the Villa manager. “We will need time. Last year we showed we needed time. On Monday we will see, [whether] we will need more time or if some players are progressing quickly.”

It promises to be a busy end to the window for Chelsea who, as well as closing in on Martínez, have explored a move for the Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara while they wait for Manchester City to submit their first official offer for Enzo Fernández.

City are yet to make contact with Chelsea over a deal for Fernández, who is desperate to leave before Tuesday night’s deadline. Chelsea are considering their next move and have Camara on a shortlist that also includes Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The Senegal international is not seen as a like-for-like replacement for Fernández but would strengthen Xabi Alonso’s midfield options if the Argentina international joins City.

Chelsea are aware of Bournemouth’s determination not to sell Scott and have received similar messages from Palace regarding Wharton, while Arsenal are understood to have knocked back an enquiry for Martín Zubimendi.

Although there have been suggestions that a deal for Fernández will be close the £106.7m, he will only be allowed to leave if Chelsea’s terms are met. Sources have warned City may have to more than the west London club’s initial £120m asking price for the 25-year-old.