Revealed: Why Evann Guessand rejected £30m Saudi Pro League wages for Aston Villa

Villa are on the verge of signing Guessand for €30 million (£26m/$34.6m) plus €5m add-ons but according to reports in France, his entourage wanted the 24-year-old to consider an offer from Saudi Pro League outfit Neom SC. Here's why he snubbed them for the Premier League side.

According to L'Equipe, Neom offered him a four-year contract with an annual salary of €8.6m, meaning he would have received €34.4m (£30m) over the entirety of his stay there. However, the report adds that Villa boss Unai Emery proved to be the clinching factor, as the Spaniard sold him on the Premier League side's project. Without him, it could have been a different story.

The Ivory Coast international, who was a target for Premier League rivals and FA Cup holders Crystal Palace, scored 12 goals last term for Nice as they finished fourth in Ligue 1. He will be Villa's first major signing of the summer.

Reports suggest Guessand will complete his Villa medical on Wednesday ahead of the move. If the transfer goes through, the forward could make his Premier League debut at home to Newcastle United on August 16.