Aston Villa is set to reject a £38 million bid from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal for striker Ollie Watkins... While the 30-year-old England international is reportedly open to the move , the Premier League side intends to keep him for the upcoming season.
The 77-goal standard set since 2020
Since joining Aston Villa from Brentford in 2020, Ollie Watkins has transformed into one of the most lethal strikers in English football. The 30-year-old forward has maintained a remarkable level of consistency, scoring 16 Premier League goals last season to match his previous year's tally. According to the report, Watkins has amassed 77 goals over the last five seasons, a feat that places him in the elite company of only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
This level of production is a testament to his evolution since leaving Brentford and makes the £38 million interest from Al Hilal particularly significant. For a club like Aston Villa, losing a player of Watkins' caliber could disrupt the momentum built under Unai Emery. The Saudi Arabian club's attempt to test Villa's resolve with this specific figure highlights just how much they value the England international's proven track record in the Premier League.
The £18m Wan-Bissaka deal and Nicolas Jackson links
While the club manages the Watkins situation, Aston Villa is moving aggressively to reshape its roster. The club has reportedly reached an agreement for a loan deal with West Ham for defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, which includes an obligation to purchase the player. This deal, understood to be worth approximately £18 million, involves the 28-year-old Congo international undergoing a medical this Wednesday.
The recruitment drive extends to the attacking third as well. As previously reported by Daily Mail Sport, Villa has been linked with a move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson. This suggests that even if the club decides to sell Watkins, they are already identifying potential replacements to ensure their offensive output does not falter.. The move for the Congo interational is expected to be finalized shortly, following a period of negotiations where Villa were initially rebuffed by a loan-only proposal.
The conflict between Al Hilal's interest and Watkins' openness
A complicating factor in these negotiations is the reported attitude of Ollie Watkins himself. Although Aston Villa is planning to keep him for the upcoming season, the source indicates that the striker is "open to the move" to the Saudi Pro League. This openness follows several proposals made by Al Hilal throughout the summer transfer window.
This tension between the club's desire to retain the player and the player's potential interest in a new challenge creates several unanswered questions. For instance, it remains unclear if Al Hilal will return with a significantly higher bid that would force Villa's hand, or if the club's current refusal will hold firm. Furthermore, while Watkins did not travel to Salzburg for the Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain, the club expects him to be available for the Premier League opener against Brighton this Sunday.
The club's strategy appears to be one of defiance , yet the player's mindset remains a wildcard. Whether Villa can successfully reintegrate Watkins into the squad or if they will eventually succumb to the financial pressure of the Saudi Arabian market is a central theme of their summer window.
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