Of all the players who could kick up a fuss at Aston Villa, very few supporters would have predicted Ollie Watkins - with his latest antics undoubtedly surprising the fanbase at Villa Park.

The England international refused to travel with the squad for Sunday’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion after stating his desire to join Saudi Arabian side, Al Hilal.

Such a decision certainly hasn’t sat well with manager Unai Emery, who stated it was the 30-year-old’s decision to not play and firmly put the blame on the forward.

Despite returning on Monday, a sale still can’t be ruled out, which has seen the hierarchy start to draw up a list of possible replacements before the window slams shut.

Why Villa should avoid signing Mateta this summer

As part of Aston Villa’s late summer recruitment drive, Emery’s side have recently been touted with a deal to land Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The Frenchman has continuously been touted with an exit from Selhurst Park over the last 12 months, but no move is yet to materialise for the 29-year-old talisman.

The Villans’ opening proposal to Pierre Sage’s men has already been rejected, but it should be the first and last offer they make in an attempt to secure his signature.

Mateta has been nursing a knee injury over the last couple of months, which even led to the forward missing out on a move to AC Milan in January after concerns about the issue.

He decided against having surgery and instead sat out of eight matches last season in an attempt to prevent serious injury - but doubts could still be raised around such an issue.

The striker’s attitude has also been a problem in recent times, as he tried to force a move away from the Eagles during the previous window back in January.

Even this summer, he’s tried to get himself out of his current deal at Selhurst Park, claiming that the last year on his contract should be declared null and void.

How Villa can land a better signing than Mateta

There’s no denying that Mateta is a striker who has proven himself in England’s top-flight, but his fitness concerns and attitude issues should see Villa move on to different targets.

Spending over £30m on a 29-year-old forward would also be a poor move from a business sense, with little to no resale value available should he remain at the club for the next four years.

As a result, Emery and Co should be putting all their focus into other options, with Juventus striker Jonathan David another player who’s high up on their shortlist.

According to reports this week, Villa have been in talks with the player’s representatives via intermediaries over the possibility of a move to the West Midlands.

However, any deal could well be tricky to complete, as fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in the Canadian international.

The Serie A side are said to be open to allowing the 26-year-old to depart before the deadline, with the player himself said to be dreaming of a move to play in England’s top-flight.

He certainly hasn’t hit the heights many expected the attacker to during his time in Turin, but there’s no disputing he’s still a top talent and one who could thrive under Emery.

David still managed to net eight times last season, but it’s his form from his time at Lille which makes him a bigger talent than Mateta and one who should be at the top of Villa’s shortlist.

The Canadian netted 77 goals during his final three years in France, a figure which the Palace star has been unable to match - showcasing his dominance in front of goal over the 29-year-old.

During such a period, the Canadian also managed to lay on 23 assists for his teammates, which could see him allow those around him at Villa Park to further their own tallies.

His final season in Ligue 1 was arguably his best, as David registered 21 goal contributions in just 32 matches - with such a tally the fourth-highest of any player in the division.

He achieved a 50% shot-on-target conversion rate - a tally higher than Mateta - subsequently backing up James Westwood’s quote that he’s “one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for David will cost this summer, it’s evident he’s a player who has the quality needed to improve Villa’s frontline this summer.

His struggles in Italy are merely a blemish on a phenomenal goalscoring record, which has seen him become one of the most in-demand talents on the continent.

As a result, it’s imperative the Villans make a move for his services in the weeks ahead and prioritise the attacker over Mateta in their attempts to secure further success.