Aston Villa Eyes Nicolas Jackson Amid Ollie Watkins Transfer Pressure

Aston Villa are braced for a late-window storm. If Ollie Watkins goes, Nicolas Jackson is ready to be the man they turn to.

Villa are expected to move for the Chelsea striker should Al Hilal finally prise Watkins away from Birmingham. Chelsea value Jackson at around £65m and, crucially, want a permanent sale after his season-long loan at Bayern Munich.

Al Hilal are still at the door. Still knocking, still pushing.

They have already seen at least one bid turned down, with their opening offer understood to be in the region of £38.5m. Villa do not want to sell. That much is clear. But the Saudi club are not going away, and Watkins is understood to be keen on the move.

This is not just any striker they are circling. Watkins hit 16 Premier League goals last season, led Villa’s line in their Europa League triumph and helped secure another year of Champions League football. His form carried him all the way into England’s 2026 World Cup squad.

For Al Hilal, he is a potential solution to a different problem: the future of Karim Benzema. Watkins, now 30, is being targeted as a possible replacement, while the Saudi side work on a way to resolve Benzema’s contract and allow the Frenchman to leave.

Emery: ‘We have an issue with him’

Unai Emery did not dance around the subject when he faced the media before Villa’s trip to Brighton on Sunday.

“We have an issue with him, it is clear,” the Villa head coach said of Watkins. “We had offers for him but he is our player. I don't want to sell him but it can change if it is a good option for him, the club and I can replace him in the squad.

“He is here and is a fantastic striker. We have always believed and supported him, he did it.

“There is 10 days to finish the transfer window, we will see. He is our player and I am happy with him.”

Pressed on whether Watkins had formally asked to leave, Emery replied: “I don't know, maybe you have more information than us! Football is changing.

“The players are professional and Watkins is our player.”

Behind those words sits a delicate balance: a manager who does not want to lose his main striker, a club staring at a huge offer, and a player with a lucrative move on the table.

Jackson waits in the wings

If that balance tips, Villa already know where they want to go next.

Nicolas Jackson is high on their list, and the groundwork is there. The Senegal forward played under Emery at Villarreal, a spell that left a strong impression on both coach and player. The relationship between Chelsea and Villa is also warm at boardroom level after a busy summer of dealings, including the record-breaking move for Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho’s switch to claret and blue.

Those channels are open. The question is whether Villa need to use them.

Atletico Madrid are also in the frame for Jackson, but they want a loan. Chelsea do not. They are looking for a clean, permanent sale. That stance hands an advantage to any Premier League club prepared to meet their valuation.

If Watkins goes, Villa suddenly become that club.

Martinez pushes for ‘another challenge’

While the focus swirls around Watkins, another pillar of Emery’s side is also edging towards the exit.

Emiliano Martinez has told Villa he wants to pursue “another challenge” in his career. The Argentina goalkeeper, a key figure in their rise under Emery and a World Cup winner, has been open with the club about his ambitions.

Villa moved early this summer, signing Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma. A proposed transfer to Juventus for Martinez collapsed, leaving him still at Villa Park as the season looms.

Emery made the situation plain.

“We have two excellent keepers,” he said. “We have signed Suzuki not for the future, but for now. He has shown his capacity and that he can play at our level.

“Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not just now and even last year, and he was thinking in case he had a possibility to change his challenges, but he stayed and performed fantastic.

“This year, again, he transmitted to us for a new challenge, and we signed Suzuki to replace him. But the scenario we have is that we have two great goalkeepers. We will see what will happen.”

Two sagas, one window

So Villa stand here: their leading scorer wanted in Saudi Arabia, their World Cup-winning goalkeeper eyeing the next step, their manager holding the line while quietly sketching out contingency plans.

If Al Hilal finally hit the number that moves Watkins, the dominoes start to fall. Jackson comes into play. Suzuki’s role grows. Emery reshapes a side that has just climbed back onto Europe’s top table.

Ten days left in the window. Two key players restless. One club trying to chase progress without losing its core.

Which way does Villa’s season turn from here?