Aston Villa Brace for Al-Hilal's Push for Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa are braced for another push from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins after knocking back an offer of almost £40m for their talismanic striker.

The Saudi Pro League club have zeroed in on Villa’s all-time Premier League leading 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 deal and a growing list of suitors, Watkins has become the focal point of a window that has already ripped through Unai Emery’s squad.

Watkins decision looms large

Villa do not want to lose him. But they know the market. If they cash in on the England international, they will move for a replacement – and Emery is a firm admirer of Nicolas Jackson. The Chelsea striker fits the profile, yet the London club’s £65m valuation currently places him out of reach.

That financial reality hangs over everything at Villa Park. Any major signing before the window closes will almost certainly have to follow a significant outgoing, with the club working hard to stay on the right side of the Premier League’s financial rules. Watkins, as one of their most valuable assets, sits right at the centre of that equation.

Emery’s overhaul gathers pace

Emery has already had to tear up and redraw his squad this summer. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have all gone, leaving for Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Rogers’ move, worth £117m, has made him the most expensive British player and underlined just how aggressively the market is moving.

Those departures have forced Villa into bold, targeted recruitment. Zion Suzuki has arrived from Parma for £30m to step in for Emiliano Martínez, whose future remains unresolved. When he makes his debut, Suzuki will become the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Premier League – a landmark signing and a clear statement that Villa are planning for life beyond Martínez.

On the defensive side, Villa have closed a £17m deal for Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid, adding depth and versatility. Talks are ongoing with Bayern Munich over João Palhinha and with West Ham regarding Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as Emery looks to harden the spine of his team.

Big buys, bigger questions

There has been serious outlay too. Johan Manzambi has joined from Freiburg for a club-record £52m, while Joao Gomes has arrived from Wolves for £38m, reinforcing a midfield that Emery wants to dominate games with and without the ball.

Those investments only heighten the pressure to balance the books. Villa are actively open to more exits. They are seeking a new club for Martínez, while Arsenal continue to monitor Ezri Konsa as they weigh up a move for the England defender.

So the window now pivots on one key call. Hold their nerve and keep Watkins as the centrepiece of Emery’s project, or accept a new, likely improved bid from Al-Hilal and trigger another chain reaction of sales and signings. For Villa, this isn’t just about one striker. It’s about what kind of club they intend to be when the window finally slams shut.