Aston Villa are stepping up their contingency plans as uncertainty continues around the future of Ollie Watkins.
The England international has made clear that he wants to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal this summer.
Villa have been reluctant to sanction his departure and rejected a fourth offer worth £45 million last week.
However, the ongoing situation has forced the Premier League club to consider possible replacements before the transfer window closes.
Villa have already explored several options as they prepare for the possibility of losing their 30-year-old striker.
They recently had an offer rejected for Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Rafael Leao and Nicolas Jackson are other options.
Jackson is also considered a leading target for manager Unai Emery as Villa continue assessing their attacking options.
However, their search has now taken them to the Bundesliga, where they have approached another potential replacement.
According to The Athletic, Aston Villa have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over a potential move for Christian Kofane.
Villa have admired the 20-year-old for a long time, with their interest predating his move to Leverkusen in 2025.
However, signing Kofane will not be straightforward because Leverkusen do not want to sell him this summer.
The Bundesliga club have no intention of sanctioning his departure despite Villa making direct club-to-club contact over a possible transfer.
Kofane made 44 appearances across all competitions for Leverkusen last season, scoring seven goals and registering another nine assists.
He also received his first Cameroon call-up in December 2025 before featuring in their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Meanwhile, Villa’s pursuit remains directly connected to the uncertainty surrounding Watkins and his desire to join Al-Hilal.
Therefore, Kofane is currently among several contingency options Villa are considering if they eventually decide to sell Watkins.
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