Aston Villa are on the cusp of their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
Villa‘s limited transfer business has thus far amounted to the additions of veteran goalkeeper Marco Bizot and teenage striker Zépiqueno Redmond, while Modou Kéba Cissé will join the club next year after signing a pre-contract agreement.
But with the new Premier League season now ten days away, it’s widely reported that Monchi and manager Unai Emery have made their move and reached a deal to sign 24-year-old Nice striker Evann Guessand.
The Ivory Coast international is expected to move to Villa Park for a reported fee in the region of £22 million plus significant add-ons. His medical is scheduled and confirmation of the transfer is expected imminently.
Guessand enjoyed a breakout season in Ligue 1 in 2024/25, scoring 12 league goals and winning plaudits for his exciting and incisive attacking play.
Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic reports that Nice initially played Guessand at centre-forward before shifting him out to the right, where he remained capable of having a huge impact on matches. His season heatmap indicates as much and also shows he still gets into the box to make things happen.
The Ivorian, who turned 24 only last month, started 30 league matches for Nice last season. His 12 goals out-performed an expected goals value of 9.2 for the campaign. His tally comprised seven goals with his preferred right foot, two with his left and three headers. He scored all but one from inside the penalty area.
Guessand is well regarded by Ligue 1 analysts and for good reason. He holds the ball up and links play well with his back to goal, and is possessed of terrific balance, a lovely first touch and outstanding spatial awareness in possession.
He’s great on the turn, carries the ball, is an excellent one-on-one dribbler and a handy finisher, though there is always room for improvement in front of goal and he’s no exception.
Everything points to Guessand being a smart buy at a good price with future progress and, if necessary, profit in mind.
With Villa set to invest in their front line, the obvious question is whether Guessand is being lined up at a replacement for Ollie Watkins. I don’t think that’s the case, at least in 2025/26.
Manchester United clearly aren’t as eager as they want people to think and will get nowhere near an offer Villa wouldn’t laugh at. Their progress towards an increasingly likely move for Benjamin Šeško should be the end of it and any interest from Newcastle United should fall on the deafest of ears.
I do think there’s a possibility that Guessand has been pinpointed as Watkins’ replacement when his time at Villa does come to an end, but for now the new boy will be adding depth and options in Emery’s attacking unit.
Between the Ivorian and Donyell Malen, Villa have enough quality and versatility in their back-up centre-forward ranks and first- and second-choice right wingers, insofar as they can be defined as wingers in Villa’s system. Guessand’s acquisition can push Morgan Rogers inside to his best position and, if they wish, allow Villa to accept an offer for Leon Bailey.
Is it possible that Guessand coming in is a sign that someone is going out? Of course. But I think he’s being signed to complement what Villa have rather than replace anyone directly, and that Villa will look to make up the difference elsewhere.
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