£60m Premier League star could head to Aston Villa

At the 2026 London Marathon, Sabastien Sawe became the first person to run a marathon under 2 hours. Aston Villa’s players may not have matched the Kenyan superstar’s record-breaking time, but they will know what it means to compete in an endless long-distance race.

It has been a season of patience for Unai Emery’s side. They have paced themselves all season, weathering the storm that came after an incredible winning streak in the fall.

As Premier League rivals strangle Villa, the stakes have only increased since the winter as Emery watches his players struggle to regain the fluency and sharpness that sparked their success.

However, Aston Villa are in fifth place, eight points behind Brighton & Hove Albion. Barring a late collapse, Villa Park could turn on the Champions League lights and Emery could push for an upgrade in Ollie Watkins.

Premier League star could replace Ollie Watkins

Although Watkins hasn’t enjoyed his best season in an Aston Villa shirt, he still played a key role as a number nine, scoring 11 goals and providing two assists in 33 games. The English striker has also contributed in Europe and was tapped as Emery seeks more European titles to add to his collection.

However, there is a feeling Watkins, 30, could be on the move this summer, with AC Milan also showing interest in recent months. Some reports even suggest that Watkins is looking for a new challenge.

Manchester City forward Omar Marmouche is attracting the attention of Aston Villa ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report in The Times last week.

Marmouche, 27, arrived in the Premier League as one of Europe’s most exciting goalscorers, although he has not been able to perform well at the Etihad Stadium. And with the title challengers willing to let Marmouche leave this summer, this could be an opportunity the Villains cannot afford to miss.

Why Marmouche is an upgrade on Watkins at Aston Villa

Marmouche is not the first talented player to fail to achieve the heights expected under Pep Guardiola’s regime. He has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League. After all, we have seen the Egyptian tear England’s defenses to shreds since his £60m arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Marmouche made a relatively prolific return to the Premier League last season, although he only started 14 games.

But this year his fortunes have dried up, with only one solitary goal added to his Premier League record. This is a far cry from the form Man City were in when they paid big money to sign him.

He clearly has no confidence in Pep’s system and is not trusted by the Spanish manager. A move to Villa Park and starring in Emery’s place finally allowed Marmouche to return to his form, scoring 37 goals and providing 20 assists in just 67 appearances for his former employers in Germany.

He has a hunger for success having struggled so far in England and could emerge as Watkins’ perfect successor in that regard. In addition to being a dangerous goalscorer, Marmouche is a dynamic athlete who dribbles forward and uses his nimble footwork to toy with defenders.

Just a few years ago, Argentine journalist Roy Nemer hailed him as “the best forward in the world”, but Villa could do much worse.

Marmouche is far too talented to languish on the sidelines during the prime of his Premier League career, and with Watkins showing signs of retiring, a one-way ticket to Villa Park could be perfect for all involved, ensuring Aston Villa have enough quality to impress in next season’s Champions League.