Aston Villa are in a rivalry with West Bromwich Albion over the signing of the rising star from Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
Villa receive injury treatment for Watkins ahead of Bournemouth trip
Manager Unai Emery says Ollie Watkins will be able to return from a hamstring strain as Aston Villa look to get back to winning ways at Bournemouth.
The 30-year-old, who has scored eight goals in 33 appearances in all competitions this season, limped off after 35 minutes of last Thursday’s Europa League match against RB Salzburg.
Watkins suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to his former club Brentford, but the England international could be in the lead against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
Asked if the striker would be available at the Vitality Stadium, Villa manager Emery replied: “Yes, he rested last week because he had a slight injury and was not ready to play. He rested last week.”
“But gradually this week he joined us and trained normally and today he trained normally.”
John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Camara and Andres Garcia remain absent for Villa, who head into the weekend in third place in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
Alisson, who signed in January, is not ready to make his debut, but Amadou Onana could start as an unused substitute against Brentford.
“Amadou Onana, he wasn’t 100 percent last week,” Emery added. “Lamare Bogard always does his job and helps us a lot, but he needs to keep getting better.”
Rising star: Aston Villa’s academy has its own Mateta
Aston Villa have a ‘rising star’ who could become Unai Emery’s own Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Aston Villa focus on pre-contract agreement with injured Rangers star
Rangers teenager Bailey Rice may have played his final game at Ibrox, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.
The 19-year-old midfielder is currently sidelined with a knee injury and there are currently no signs of extending his contract, which expires at the end of the season.
Villa and local rivals West Brom are eyeing a pre-contract agreement. The Premier League team has already acquired Rory Wilson from Rangers in recent years.
“Yes, that’s a real possibility. He’s out of contract in the summer and he hasn’t yet agreed a new contract at Ibrox,” O’Rourke said.
I am therefore sure that the English club is considering a situation where they are prepared to offload him on a pre-contract. Villa and West Brom have long admired the midfielder.
“It’s difficult for Rangers, he’s been out for a long time with an injury and Bailey Rice has been out for the last five months with a serious knee injury.
“He may not return until the end of the season, so we can move on after that. Maybe interested clubs that are keeping an eye on Rice may be concerned about that injury.”
“But he is a highly-rated young player who made his breakthrough a few seasons ago and has made 16 first-team appearances for Rangers.
“Last season he also attracted attention when he played against Man United in the Europa League. Rangers will not want to let him go, but it seems like they could easily find themselves in that situation now.”
