Al Hilal Pursue Ollie Watkins Amid Benzema's Uncertainty
Al Hilal have opened talks with Aston Villa over a deal for striker Ollie Watkins, testing Villa’s resolve as the Saudi club search for a replacement for Karim Benzema.
One bid has already been rejected, but the discussions have not gone away. Far from it. Negotiations are understood to be ongoing as Al Hilal probe for a formula that tempts Villa without ripping the heart out of Unai Emery’s attack.
Al Hilal eye Watkins as Benzema uncertainty grows
Watkins has emerged as a leading target as Al Hilal plan for life after Benzema. The club are working on a way to resolve the French forward’s contract and pave the way for his exit, only months after his arrival.
Benzema joined Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February on an 18‑month deal and made an instant impact in Riyadh, scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances in his first half-season. Yet his future is now unclear, and that uncertainty has pushed the Saudi side towards a proven, high-output striker in Europe.
Watkins fits that brief. He hit 16 Premier League goals last season, spearheading Villa’s charge as they lifted the Europa League and booked another year of Champions League football. His form also earned him a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, underlining his rise into the elite bracket of forwards.
Since arriving from Brentford in 2020, the 30-year-old has become Villa’s attacking reference point, passing the 100-goal mark for the club and evolving into Emery’s on-pitch guarantee of pressing, running and end product. Losing him now, with the season about to start, would be a brutal blow.
Villa’s summer storm
The chase for Watkins drops into an already turbulent summer at Villa Park.
The mood around pre-season had darkened after the exits of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, departures that raised questions about depth and direction just as Villa prepared to balance domestic demands with another European campaign.
There was a flicker of light. Villa’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final briefly changed the conversation. New signing Joao Gomes impressed, 17-year-old Brian Madjo played without fear, and both again showed why Emery has been so keen to fast-track them into his plans, even in defeat.
Then came another setback. Reports of injuries to both Gomes and Madjo arrived just as Villa edge towards their Premier League opener against Brighton. They now join Amadou Onana and new signing Johan Manzambi on the treatment table, stretching Emery’s options before a ball has been kicked.
Against that backdrop, Al Hilal’s pursuit of Watkins lands like another punch. Villa have already turned away one offer. The question now is simple and stark: how long can they keep saying no?
