Villa facing a battle to lure Wilson

VILLA are going head-to-head with Newcastle to sign Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson. The 28-year-old England international is expected to leave the Cherries following their relegation to the Championship and a number of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move.

Villa are in the market for attacking reinforcements with the jury still out on Wesley and Mbwana Samatta after last season’s battle against relegation.

Head coach Dean Smith is keen to sign Ollie Watkins but Villa have so far been unwilling to meet Brentford’s £25 million valuation.

Wilson is proven at Premier League level having scored 30 goals in his past three seasons in the top flight.

Villa and Newcastle are in talks with Bournemouth. Newcastle are looking to complete a cash-plus-player deal, which would see Matt Ritchie move in the opposite direction.

Villa’s offer is cash-only but it’s unclear how much Bournemouth are demanding for their star player.

It has been suggested they are under no pressure to sell and could ask for £30 million for Wilson, who still has three years remaining on his contract.

One of the obstacles barring Watkins’ move to Villa has been removed, though, as Brentford signed Peterborough striker Ivan Toney for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old, who was the subject of a rejected bid from Celtic earlier in the summer, joined the Championship club on a five-year deal.

That could pave the way for the Bees to finally give Watkins the green light to pursue his move to the Premier League, reluctant as they have been to allow him to leave without first finding a replacement.

The 24-year-old has long been linked with a reunion with Villa head coach Smith, although newly-promoted Leeds United and Fulham have also been credited with an interest in a striker who finished second in the Championship goal charts last season.

Indeed, sources claim Villa are ready to pay the former Exeter attacker £70,000 a week to move up the M40.

Smith has previously spoken of his admiration for Watkins, having taken him to Griffin Park for just £1.8 million in 2017.

Meanwhile, Villa have reportedly completed the signing of talented teenage striker Ruben Shakpoke from Norwich.

The youngster has rejected the chance of a scholarship at Carrow Road, and sources in Nigeria claim Villa have beaten off competition from Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven to sign Shakpoke.