Al Hilal are actively pursuing two separate Premier League targets, but Ollie Watkins remains an Aston Villa player and Gabriel Martinelli is still with Arsenal. While there is confidence surrounding both moves, neither has resulted in a confirmed agreement.
- Al Hilal are pushing ahead with parallel moves for Watkins and Martinelli, rather than a single bundled deal.
- Neither player has agreed a transfer, with Watkins still at Aston Villa and Martinelli still at Arsenal.
- Arsenal are weighing up Martinelli’s contract situation, while Aston Villa have already turned down bids for Watkins.
Al Hilal’s Pursuit of Watkins and Martinelli
Al Hilal’s chase involves two separate negotiations. Ollie Watkins is still contracted to Aston Villa and Gabriel Martinelli remains on the books at Arsenal, so the current picture is one of ongoing interest rather than a settled double signing.
Watkins appears to be the more advanced target at this stage. Aston Villa have already rejected approaches for the striker, with an initial offer of about £38.5m followed by a later bid said to be around £45m. Al Hilal are pressing on with their attacking recruitment plans, but Villa have not sanctioned a sale.
Both players stand out as major Premier League targets. Watkins scored 16 goals in 37 league appearances last season, while Martinelli made 30 league appearances, contributing one goal and four assists.
Gabriel Martinelli’s Arsenal Situation
Gabriel Martinelli’s situation at Arsenal is particularly significant as he enters the final year of his contract. That puts his future into the club’s planning this window, even if no move to Al Hilal has been agreed.
Arsenal have discussed Martinelli’s future internally, and the squad picture gives the club some room to consider a possible exit. Even after Leandro Trossard’s move to Besiktas, Arsenal still believe they have left-sided cover through Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.
That context makes the idea of a sale easier to understand, but it does not make one inevitable.
Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa’s Next Steps
Ollie Watkins provides a clearer test of club resistance. Al Hilal may still feel confident about landing the forward, but Villa’s stance has been firm so far.
If Villa were eventually to sanction a sale, it would quickly push the club into replacement planning. Nicolas Jackson has been identified as a possible target in that scenario, highlighting how directly a Watkins departure would affect Villa’s next move in the transfer market.
