Aston Villa have faced transfer uncertainty surrounding a key player before.
Last summer, goalkeeper Emi Martinez wanted to join Manchester United. When Unai Emery was asked why the Argentina international missed Villa’s opening league match against Crystal Palace, the head coach repeatedly responded with the name of his replacement, Marco Bizot.
Twelve months later, Ollie Watkins is the player at the centre of speculation.
Asked why the striker was absent from Villa’s Premier League opener at Brighton on Sunday, Emery offered an equally telling response.
“This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence,” the Villa manager said.
The situation was made worse by a disastrous 4-0 defeat. Villa conceded all four goals inside the opening 31 minutes before debutant Joao Gomes was sent off.
Watkins’ seven-year spell at Villa Park now appears to be approaching a turbulent conclusion, with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal having four offers rejected for the England striker.
Al-Hilal’s latest offer is understood to be close to £40m, but it remains well below Villa’s asking price.
With the transfer deadline approaching next Tuesday, Villa are expected to demand a substantial fee for their record Premier League goalscorer. Although Emery admitted last week that Watkins could leave, an agreement is still believed to be some distance away.
Al-Hilal may also need to move on one of their overseas players before completing the transfer. That remains the case despite Darwin Nunez joining Diriyah on loan last week. The Saudi club signed Crysencio Summerville from West Ham in July.
Watkins returned late following an extended post-World Cup break and has been training alone. He is understood to have made his desire to move clear to Villa’s hierarchy and is reportedly open to joining Al-Hilal.
Neither Watkins nor his representatives have commented publicly on the situation. They have also remained silent regarding Emery’s response when asked about the striker’s absence at Brighton—a remark that appeared to place responsibility on the player.
Villa must now decide whether a sizeable offer for a forward who turns 31 in December represents sensible business. Watkins was in and out of Emery’s starting line-up last season, but his importance to the club extends well beyond his recent role.
Watkins has scored 108 goals in 278 appearances since joining Villa from Brentford for a then-club-record £28m.
He has been central to Villa’s rise over the past six years, with his goals, tireless work rate and grounded personality making him one of the club’s most popular figures.
The high point came in Istanbul, where Watkins helped Villa defeat Freiburg to win the Europa League and end their 30-year wait for a major trophy.
While Ezri Konsa’s influence was also crucial, Watkins’ departure would carry greater emotional weight than any of Villa’s other major summer exits.
Those close to the club are surprised by how the relationship appears to be ending. Watkins has generally been regarded as a manager’s dream: committed, professional and intensely focused on his football.
He has faced transfer uncertainty before. In 2017, Exeter manager Paul Tisdale initially left him out amid interest from Derby. Watkins asked to play, came off the bench and scored in a victory over Wycombe.
Given that attitude and determination, Villa did not expect his time at the club to conclude in this manner.
Watkins is not the only major issue Villa must resolve before the window closes.
Martinez’s future remains uncertain after a second consecutive summer of unrest. A proposed move to Juventus collapsed earlier this month because the Italian club would not meet Villa’s financial demands.
Villa must now find a solution for the 33-year-old after signing Zion Suzuki to become their new first-choice goalkeeper.
Replacing Watkins would be more difficult than finding a successor to Konsa. Villa have already had two bids rejected by Southampton for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Brian Madjo is another attacking option after Villa successfully challenged Fifa for the right to register him. However, the 17-year-old cannot realistically be expected to carry the club’s goalscoring burden.
Villa had been open to allowing Tammy Abraham to leave, but Watkins’ increasingly likely departure could change that position. Abraham, who joined from Besiktas in January, has not been seeking an exit and remains happy at Villa Park.
Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson remains one of Emery’s leading targets, having previously worked with the Villa manager at Villarreal. There has been no direct contact with Manchester United over Joshua Zirkzee.
Emery already needs to find new leaders following the departures of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Konsa. Rogers and Tielemans both scored in Villa’s Europa League triumph in Istanbul.
Yet of all Villa’s summer departures, losing Watkins would cut the deepest.
