Al Hilal Negotiates for Ollie Watkins Amidst Villa's Turmoil

Al Hilal have opened negotiations with Aston Villa over a deal for striker Ollie Watkins, with the Saudi club pushing hard to land one of the Premier League’s most reliable forwards.

One bid has already been rejected, but the talks have not gone away. Far from it. Discussions are ongoing as Al Hilal search for a formula that will tempt Villa to the table.

Al Hilal eye Watkins as Benzema solution

Watkins has been identified as a leading candidate to replace Karim Benzema, whose future at Al Hilal is now in doubt. The club are working on a way to resolve the Frenchman’s contract and clear the path for his departure.

Benzema only arrived in February, making the switch from Al Ittihad on an 18‑month deal. On the pitch, his impact was immediate: 10 goals in 15 games in his first half-season in Riyadh. Off the pitch, though, uncertainty now hangs over his role and his next move.

That uncertainty has pushed Al Hilal towards Watkins. They want a guaranteed goalscorer in his prime. Watkins, after the season he has just delivered, fits that description perfectly.

Villa’s main man

The Aston Villa striker is coming off a campaign that has redefined his status at the club and beyond. He hit 16 league goals as Villa not only lifted the Europa League but also locked in another season of Champions League football.

His form has carried him onto the international stage too, with Watkins named in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. For club and country, he has become a central figure.

Since joining from Brentford in 2020, Watkins has grown into Villa’s attacking heartbeat. Now 30, he has passed the 100-goal mark for the club, a landmark that underlines his consistency and importance at Villa Park.

Letting that level of output walk out the door would be a seismic call for Villa. Al Hilal know it. That is why they are still at the negotiating table, trying to find the number that makes Villa think twice.

Turbulent backdrop at Villa Park

All of this plays out against a restless backdrop in Birmingham. The mood around Villa Park this summer has been uneasy.

Early in pre-season, the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans cast a shadow over preparations and stirred fears of a step backwards just as Villa were re-establishing themselves among Europe’s elite.

Then came a brief surge of optimism. In the UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint‑Germain, Villa produced a performance that cut through the gloom. They lost the match, but the display offered a reminder of the team’s resilience and Emery’s tactical grip.

New signing Joao Gomes and 17‑year‑old Brian Madjo were central to that. Both have impressed throughout pre-season and again stood out against PSG, injecting energy and belief into a fanbase that needed it.

The lift did not last long. Reports of injuries to both Gomes and Madjo have hit Unai Emery hard in the build-up to the Premier League opener against Brighton. They now join Amadou Onana and new recruit Johan Manzambi on the treatment table, stripping depth from a squad already under strain.

A defining decision

Against that injury list and the turbulence of the summer, Villa now face another major question: what price, if any, makes selling Ollie Watkins worth the risk?

Al Hilal are still knocking. Villa, for the moment, are saying no.

How long they can afford to hold that line, with injuries piling up and a Champions League campaign ahead, may shape the entire trajectory of their season.