Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins tells Unai Emery he will reject Arsenal to stay

Fellow striker Jhon Duran is expected to complete a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in a deal worth up to 85m euros (£71.09m). The Saudi transfer window closes on Friday.

Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, admits the club will need to keep some of the money brought in to help comply with profit and sustainability rules.

He said: “It is an important operation for a player with tremendous potential.

“But these types of offers, for the club and the player, are difficult to reject. Between fixed and variable amounts, it will be close to 85m euros.

“There are a few small details left and for the player it is an incredible economic leap.

“The first thing we are going to do with the money we receive from the sale of Duran is to keep a portion of it because of the fair play rules, which are very demanding.

“A significant part of the income will go towards that.”

Chelsea striker Joao Felix and Paris St-Germain forward Marco Asensio are on the Villa’s wishlist before Monday’s 23:00 GMT deadline as they look for reinforcements.

Felix has seven goals in 20 games for Chelsea having moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid for £45m in the summer but has made just three Premier League starts.

Spain international Asensio, 29, has made 16 appearances for PSG, scoring twice, but just eight of them have come in Ligue 1 for the leaders.

Monchi told Spanish radio station El Larguero: “Then there are names, one of them being Joao. Emery likes him, because in the three transfer markets I have been in, the fourth with this one, he has always been mentioned and has been a small object of desire for Emery.

“But it is complicated, and I don’t know if we will be able to be there.

“The first time, Aston Villa were in the Conference [League] and he wanted the Champions League – that’s why he went to Barcelona. Then, in the operation with [Conor] Gallagher and Atletico he had to enter into negotiations with Chelsea and we couldn’t get in.

“It’s a similar case to Asensio there is also an important love affair. Shortly before my arrival, Aston Villa tried to sign him and came close, but he went to PSG.

“He is a player that Emery has always had in mind because he believes in his quality.”