Aston Villa Prepare for Al-Hilal's New Bid for Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa are braced for another assault from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins after knocking back an offer of almost £40m for their talismanic striker.
The Saudi club have zeroed in on Villa’s all-time Premier League top scorer, a forward who has hit double figures in each of his six top-flight seasons since arriving from Brentford. At 30, with two years left on his contract and a proven record in England, Watkins has become one of the most coveted names in this late stretch of the window.
Villa do not want to lose him. But they also know the reality of the market. If Al-Hilal return with a significantly improved bid, the conversation changes.
Emery’s dilemma up front
Should Watkins go, Villa would move quickly for a replacement. Unai Emery is a long-term admirer of Nicolas Jackson and sees the Chelsea forward as an ideal fit for his system. The problem is the price. Chelsea’s £65m valuation is understood to be far beyond what Villa are willing – or able – to commit right now.
Inside the club, there is a clear understanding: any major new signing before the deadline will almost certainly have to follow another big sale. That pressure comes not from ambition, but from the Premier League’s financial regulations, which are already shaping the way Villa operate this summer.
A squad ripped up and rebuilt
Emery has already overseen a drastic reshaping of his squad. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have all gone, heading to Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Rogers departed in a deal worth £117m, making him the most expensive British player of all time and underlining just how aggressively Villa have had to trade.
The turnover has been just as dramatic on the way in.
Zion Suzuki has arrived from Parma for £30m to step into the role vacated by Emiliano Martínez, whose future remains unresolved. When Suzuki makes his debut, he will become the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Premier League – a landmark moment wrapped inside Villa’s wider rebuild.
At the back, Villa have secured Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid in a £17m move, adding energy and depth on the flank. Talks continue with Bayern Munich over João Palhinha and with West Ham regarding Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as Emery looks to harden the spine of his side for another push on multiple fronts.
In midfield, Villa have gone big. Johan Manzambi has joined from Freiburg for a club-record £52m, while Joao Gomes has arrived from Wolves in a £38m deal, signalling a clear intent to refresh the core of the team with younger, dynamic profiles.
Big decisions still to come
The exits may not be over. Villa are actively hoping to secure a new club for Martínez, a move that would further reshape the dressing room leadership and free up significant wages and funds. At the back, Arsenal remain keen on Ezri Konsa, whose consistency and versatility have attracted long-term admiration in north London.
So the window now hangs on a few key calls. Watkins, Martínez, Konsa. Keep them and Villa bank on continuity and incremental growth. Cash in and the club leans fully into a high-stakes rebuild under Emery.
Either way, the next bid that lands on Villa’s desk for their No 9 could define the rest of their season.
