Aston Villa are still weighing up a difficult call on Ollie Watkins as Al Hilal continue to push for the forward, with a move not yet agreed and Villa’s valuation still a major sticking point. The decision is tied not only to the fee on offer, but also to whether Unai Emery’s side can line up a workable replacement before letting one of their main attackers go.
- Villa have rejected Al Hilal’s offers for Watkins.
- The latest proposal was around £45m, while Villa are seeking more.
- Villa may need a replacement before approving any exit.
Ollie Watkins’ Current Situation at Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins remains an Aston Villa player as Al Hilal try to prise him away, but Villa have already turned down multiple approaches and there is still no club-to-club agreement in place.
The latest rejected offer was worth around £45m, while Villa’s valuation is understood to be closer to £55m. That gap explains why the situation remains unresolved, even with interest from Saudi Arabia staying active late in the window.
Villa also faced a Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, with a 14:00 BST kick-off at the American Express Community Stadium. Watkins was not listed in the starting XI for that game.
Watkins scored 16 Premier League goals in 37 appearances last season, underlining why Villa are reluctant to let him leave without the right fee.
What Still Needs to Happen for an Al Hilal Move
The biggest issue is still the money. Al Hilal could yet return with an improved bid, and a figure of around £50m might move talks closer to a resolution, but the two clubs have not reached that point yet.
Watkins is understood to be open to the move and had previously turned down informal contract offers from Villa, although the club have since made a new proposal. Player preference is only one part of Villa’s wider decision.
Reports of agreed personal terms with Al Hilal should be treated with caution for now, but an improved bid would force Villa to reassess the situation. Al Hilal’s striker search could also depend on other moving parts, including Karim Benzema’s contract situation, before their next step becomes clearer.
Aston Villa’s Replacement Planning and Next Steps
Aston Villa’s replacement planning is therefore central to any decision on Watkins’ future.
Nicolas Jackson has emerged as a possible contingency option if Watkins leaves, and there is an obvious link there given Emery previously coached him at Villarreal. Even so, that route looks far from straightforward and there is no agreement in place.
Chelsea’s preference for a permanent sale rather than another loan could complicate any attempt to bring Jackson in. For now, the next move in this story is likely to depend on two things happening at the same time: Al Hilal improving their offer enough to test Villa’s resolve, and Villa finding a replacement plan they believe is strong enough to protect their attacking depth.
