Al Hilal are actively negotiating with Aston Villa in an effort to secure the services of striker Ollie Watkins, who has expressed a strong desire to make the move. According to Sky Sports News, the Saudi outfit has already had a €45 million (approximately £38.5 million) bid turned down by Villa, but talks are still ongoing as both parties search for a mutually acceptable arrangement. The situation is further complicated by Villa's need to replace Watkins should he depart. The club’s strategy will likely hinge on finding a suitable successor, which could influence how quickly they are willing to let the forward go.
At 30 years old, Watkins is being eyed by Al Hilal as a potential successor to French star Karim Benzema. The Saudi side is simultaneously working on untangling Benzema’s contractual situation in order to free him up for a new deal. Benzema arrived at Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February on an 18‑month contract, but his future now hangs in the balance after a solid debut in which he netted ten goals in fifteen appearances during the first half‑season in Riyadh. Al Hilal’s interest in Watkins follows a prolific campaign for Aston Villa, where he recorded sixteen league goals and played a pivotal role in the club’s Europa League triumph, which also secured another season of Champions League football.
His performances earned him a place in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, underscoring his standing as a top‑level forward. The 30‑year‑old has become one of Villa’s most important attacking assets since his arrival from Brentford in 2020, amassing more than one hundred goals across all competitions.
His consistent goal‑scoring record and experience in European competition make him an attractive target for Al Hilal, who are looking to bolster their attacking options as they aim to maintain domestic dominance and make an impact on the Asian Champions League. Meanwhile, Villa have not been idle in the transfer market.
They have shown a sustained interest in Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, a pursuit that remains active with only two weeks left in the summer window. In addition, the club has confirmed the acquisitions of Matteo Ruggeri and Zion Suzuki. Ruggeri, a 24‑year‑old former Italy U21 left‑back, joins from Atletico Madrid for a reported £21.4 million after making 47 appearances in all competitions during the 2025/26 season.
Suzuki, a 23‑year‑old Japanese international goalkeeper, arrives from Parma for around £29.9 million after two years of experience in Italian football. Sky Sports analyst Pat Rowe offered his perspective on Villa’s pre‑season developments. He noted that the gloom surrounding the departure of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans was briefly lifted by Villa’s spirited display against Paris Saint‑Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final. New signing João Gomes and 17‑year‑old Brian Madjo impressed during pre‑season and again against PSG, despite the eventual loss.
However, the optimism was tempered by injury news. Manager Unai Emery faces another setback as reports suggest both Gomes and Madjo have picked up injuries ahead of the season opener versus Brighton. They will join Amadou Onana and recent signing Johan Manzambi on the sidelines, further depleting the squad’s options.
The summer has been a period of significant change at Villa Park. Managing the exit of key players is already a complex task, and the added challenge of injuries compounds the difficulty. The lack of pre‑season match fitness for defenders Ezri Konsa and striker Ollie Watkins—who have been linked with moves away—due to their extended World Cup breaks, could lead to unexpected line‑up adjustments and performance fluctuations when the team takes the field at the Amex Stadium.
In summary, the transfer saga surrounding Ollie Watkins illustrates the intricate balance clubs must strike between securing financial returns, maintaining squad depth, and pursuing competitive ambitions. Al Hilal’s pursuit of Watkins reflects their broader strategy to assemble a world‑class attacking lineup, while Aston Villa must navigate the dual challenges of replacing a prolific scorer and coping with injury setbacks. The coming weeks will be decisive for both clubs as they aim to finalize deals, reinforce their rosters, and set the stage for the upcoming season across domestic leagues, European competitions, and the Asian football calendar.