Aston Villa appear poised to enter the market for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson should they manage to offload striker Ollie Watkins to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal. According to sources at Sky Sports News, Chelsea have placed a £65 million valuation on Jackson, reflecting his impressive performances during his loan spell at Bayern Munich last season. Al Hilal remain actively engaged in negotiations for Watkins, who has expressed a strong desire to experience football in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi club have already submitted at least one offer for the England international, reportedly in the region of £38.5 million, which was turned down by Villa. Despite the rejection, Al Hilal continue to press for a deal, highlighting Watkins' 16 league goals in the previous campaign and his crucial role in Villa's victorious Europa League run.
While Villa are reluctant to lose Watkins, the club’s hierarchy understand that a substantial fee could fund other strategic signings. Should the transfer materialise, Villa’s attention would shift to securing Jackson, who is also on the radar of Atletico Madrid. Atletico have indicated a preference for a loan arrangement, whereas Chelsea are insistent on a permanent transfer after Jackson’s successful loan stint at Bayern.
The relationship between Chelsea and Villa is reportedly strong at senior levels, with both clubs already completing high‑profile transactions this summer, including the record‑breaking move for Morgan Rogers and the acquisition of Alejandro Garnacho for the claret and blue side. This goodwill could smooth negotiations for Jackson, especially given his previous connection with Villa manager Unai Emery, who coached him at Villarreal. In recent press conferences, Emery has been candid about the situation. Speaking before Villa’s match against Brighton, he said, "We have an issue with him, it is clear.
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." Emery added that with only ten days left in the transfer window, decisions would hinge on what benefits the club and the player. When questioned about Watkins' desire 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." He further noted that Watkins, now 30, is being linked as a potential replacement for Karim Benzema at Al Hilal, with the Saudi side also exploring ways to resolve Benzema’s contract situation.
Watkins' impact at Villa this season cannot be overstated. His 16 league goals not only propelled Villa to Europa League glory but also secured a place in next season’s Champions League. His performances earned him a spot in England’s provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, underscoring his continued relevance on the international stage.
The goalkeeper situation at Villa is also evolving. Emery confirmed that Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez is contemplating a new challenge and may depart, prompting Villa to sign Japanese keeper Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this summer. A potential move to Juventus for Martínez fell through, leaving him at Villa for now, though his future remains uncertain.
Emery remarked, "We have two excellent keepers. 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." In summary, Villa face a pivotal juncture.
If Watkins secures a move to Al Hilal, the resulting transfer fee could unlock the acquisition of Nicolas Jackson, a forward valued at £65 million by Chelsea and coveted by clubs across Europe. The club’s strategic decisions over the next ten days will shape the composition of the squad heading into the new season, balancing the desire to retain key talent with the financial realities of the modern transfer market.