Transfer insider Dean Jones has been reacting to Aston Villa’s plans to move for Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze.

Unai Emery looks set to be backed by NSWE in the January transfer window with a ‘huge’ budget, and it seems as if Chukwueze is a top target for the Spaniard.

Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Villa are plotting a move for the 23-year-old, who fits the bill due to his speed, direct approach and ability to create and score goals.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones was speaking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa and Chukwueze, saying that Emery may want his new club to be at the ‘front of the queue’ for the Nigeria international.

The journalist stated: “It’s being played up a lot and it seems like he is a player that Emery has clearly got on his radar for January.

“Managers always want to bring in somebody that they recognise and a game-changer is, obviously, something they all look for too. It comes hand-in-hand with an appointment like this, that they’ll be looking for someone like Chukwueze.

“He won’t want him to go anywhere else either. If he’s actually going to make a transfer, they want to be at the front of the queue.”

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The Verdict: Record move?

Reports have suggested that any club would need to pay around €50m (£43.5m) for the forward, which would make him Villa’s most expensive signing of all time if they land him for that amount.

Chukwueze has been hailed by ESPN journalist David Cartlidge as a 'ridiculous' talent who 'tortures' defenders and has played under Emery more than any other manager in his career.

He has contributed to 29 goals in 94 games for the current Villa boss and you’d like to think that he still has time to improve before reaching his prime, so this could be an ideal deal to try and pull off and one to keep a close eye on heading into 2023.