Aston Villa are poised to enter the market for Nicolas Jackson if they manage to offload Ollie Watkins to Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal. According to sources at Sky Sports News, Chelsea have placed a £65 million valuation on the 23‑year‑old forward, indicating the level of interest they expect to generate.
Al Hilal remain engaged in negotiations for Watkins, who has expressed a desire to experience football in Saudi Arabia, and have already seen at least one of their offers turned down. Their initial bid was reported to be around £38.5 million. While Villa would prefer to retain Watkins, the Saudi club are persistent in their pursuit of the England international, who notched 16 league goals in the previous campaign and played a pivotal role in Villa's triumphant Europa League run.
Atletico Madrid have also emerged as potential suitors for Jackson, though they appear to favour a loan arrangement rather than a permanent deal. Chelsea, on the other hand, are insistent on a full transfer after Jackson completed a season‑long loan spell at Bayern Munich. The relationship between Chelsea and Villa at senior management level is reportedly strong.
The two Premier League outfits have already conducted business this summer, most notably the record‑breaking transfer involving Morgan Rogers and the move of Alejandro Garnacho to the Villa colours. Jackson’s connection to Villa manager Unai Emery runs deep, as both worked together at Villarreal during their playing days.
In recent Villa updates, the club reminded fans that Sky Sports subscribers can watch Premier League matches live on mobile devices, while non‑subscribers are encouraged to explore Sky’s latest streaming deals that require no long‑term contract. The Transfer Centre is also broadcasting live updates on the latest rumors. Emery addressed the situation in a pre‑match press conference ahead of the Sunday clash with Brighton, stating, "We have an issue with him, it is clear. We received offers for him but he remains our player.
I am not inclined to sell him unless the deal benefits the player, the club, and we can adequately replace him in the squad. He is here and is a fantastic striker.
We have always believed in him and supported his development." He added, "There are ten days left in the transfer window, so we will see what unfolds. He is our player and I am satisfied with his contributions." When questioned about Watkins' possible request to leave, Emery replied, "I don't know, perhaps you have more information than us. Football is evolving.
The players are professionals and Watkins is our player." At 30 years old, Watkins is being linked as a prospective replacement for Karim Benzema, with Al Hilal also working on a solution to free the French striker from his current contract. Al Hilal's interest in Watkins follows his impressive season where he scored 16 league goals, helped Villa secure the Europa League trophy, and ensured a place in the Champions League for the following year. He has also earned a spot in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. Emery also commented on the future of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, suggesting that the Argentine is seeking "another challenge" in his career.
Villa have already secured Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma during the summer window, after a potential move to Juventus for Martínez fell through. While Martínez remains at Villa for now, Emery indicated that the club will monitor his intentions closely. "We have two excellent keepers," Emery said.
"We signed Suzuki not just for the future but for the present. He has demonstrated his ability to perform at our level. Martínez has expressed a desire for a new challenge, both this year and previously, but he stayed and performed brilliantly. This year he reiterated his wish for a fresh challenge, prompting us to bring in Suzuki as an alternative.
Nevertheless, we now possess two top‑class goalkeepers, and we will see how the situation develops." In summary, Villa find themselves at a crossroads: they must decide whether to retain their prolific striker Ollie Watkins amid interest from Al Hilal, while simultaneously weighing the potential acquisition of Nicolas Jackson, a player valued at £65 million by Chelsea. The club's strategic decisions in the final ten days of the transfer window could shape their attacking options for the upcoming season, as they balance the desire to keep key talent with the financial and competitive incentives of high‑profile transfers.
The ongoing negotiations, combined with the club's existing relationships and recent signings, suggest that Villa will carefully evaluate each offer to ensure the best outcome for both the squad and its supporters.