Aston Villa keep targeting Roma’s Matias Soule for £35m as Emery prepares his squad for the UEFA Super Cup and Champions League.
- The 23-year-old created 1.9 chances per 90 in Serie A placing him in the top 20% of European attackers
- Roma need to raise funds to address financial issues creating a genuine transfer opportunity
- Villa also face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup in early August
The Super Cup context. Villa’s ambitions are growing
Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph has fundamentally changed the expectations at Villa Park. The club now faces PSG in the UEFA Super Cup in early August, a fixture that confirms their place among European football’s elite. That context makes summer recruitment not simply desirable but essential. Emery needs reinforcements to compete at this level consistently.
As we reported a month ago, Soulé emerges at precisely the right moment. Roma need to sell. The player wants to leave. Villa need creative attacking depth. The conditions for a deal are aligned in a way that rarely happens in the summer window.
The player. Stats that make the case
Matias Soule’s 2025-26 Serie A campaign delivered numbers that place him firmly among Europe’s most productive wide attackers. He created 1.9 chances per 90, ranking him in the top 20% of attackers across the continent. His 30% cross success rate places him above 85% of forwards in the division. He completed 1.5 successful dribbles per 90. He contributed seven goals across all competitions.
Those statistics are not simply impressive in isolation. They are specifically valuable in the context of Villa’s attacking system. Emery’s setup demands wide players who create consistently, not occasionally. Soule’s output across a full Serie A season confirms he can deliver that standard of consistent contribution.
The Watkins partnership: a natural fit
The statistical case for Soule specifically benefiting Watkins is compelling. Twenty-five per cent of Watkins’ goals this season came with his head from crosses. Soule’s crossing ability, a 30% success rate from wide positions, directly addresses the specific service that Villa’s number nine converts most efficiently.
Watkins ended the season with 21 goals: his best return in a Villa shirt. However, his first 18 games produced just one goal. Better and more consistent wide service throughout the campaign would have delivered a higher overall tally. Soule addresses that specific gap directly and measurably.
Roma’s financial situation is Villa’s opportunity
Roma need to raise funds. That financial pressure combined with Soule’s own desire for a Premier League move gives Villa genuine and time-sensitive leverage. A £35m offer, submitted quickly and backed by Champions League football, is difficult for either party to resist for long.
The Malen permanent sale providing €25m helps fund this specific pursuit. Smart portfolio management, selling where value has been extracted, buying where quality is needed.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Soule at £35m is outstanding value for a 23-year-old with established Serie A output and the specific crossing quality Watkins needs. Roma want to sell. The player wants to move. Villa need the creativity. There is no reason to delay. Get this done before the summer becomes crowded.
