Aston Villa are reportedly preparing to make a serious approach for forward Nicolas Jackson should they agree to let Ollie Watkins join Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal. According to sources at Sky Sports News, Chelsea have placed a valuation of roughly £65 million on Jackson, indicating the level of interest from top clubs.
Al Hilal have been in active negotiations for Watkins, who has expressed a desire to experience football in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi club have already submitted at least one offer that Villa rejected; the initial bid was in the region of £38.5 million. While Villa are reluctant to lose their prolific striker, Al Hilal are determined to secure the England international, who notched 16 Premier League goals last season and played a key role in Villa's triumphant Europa League campaign.
Beyond Villa and Al Hilal, other European teams have also signaled interest in Jackson. Atletico Madrid are reportedly eyeing the player, but they would prefer to arrange a loan rather than a permanent deal.
Chelsea, Jackson's parent club, are keen on a full transfer after the winger spent the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he impressed with his pace and technical ability. The relationship between Chelsea and Aston Villa remains strong at the senior executive level. The two Premier League outfits have already completed a series of transactions this summer, most notably the record‑breaking swap involving Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho, which saw the young talents move between the clubs. Jackson's connection to Villa's manager, Unai Emery, runs deep; both men worked together at Villarreal before reuniting in England.
This familiarity may smooth any potential negotiations, as Emery knows the player's strengths and temperament well. In other Villa news, the club continues to promote its brand through Sky Sports partnerships, encouraging fans to watch Premier League matches live on mobile devices or via streaming packages without long‑term contracts. The Transfer Centre remains active, with daily updates on the market. Emery addressed the situation surrounding Watkins in a pre‑match press conference ahead of the team's fixture against Brighton.
"We have an issue with him, it is clear," he said. "We have received offers for him but he remains our player.
I do not want to sell him, although that could change if the deal benefits the player, the club, and we can find a suitable replacement. He is a fantastic striker and we have always backed him." When pressed about whether Watkins had formally requested a move, Emery replied, "I don't know, maybe you have more information than us! Football is changing.
The players are professionals and Watkins is our player." He added that there were only ten days left in the transfer window, implying that any decision would need to be made swiftly. Watkins, now 30, is being touted as a possible successor to Karim Benzema at Al Hilal. The Saudi giants are also working on a solution to Benzema's contract situation, hoping to free up a marquee signing slot. Watkins' impressive tally of 16 league goals this season helped Villa clinch the Europa League title and secure another campaign in the Champions League.
His performances have also earned him a place in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. Goalkeeper matters have also featured in Emery's recent comments. He revealed that Emiliano Martínez has expressed a desire to seek "another challenge" in his career. Villa completed the signing of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier in the summer, after a potential move for Martínez to Juventus fell through.
While Martínez remains at Villa for now, Emery admitted that the Argentine's future is uncertain. "We have two excellent keepers," Emery said.
"We signed Suzuki not just for the future but for the present; he has shown he can perform at our level. Martínez has communicated his wish for a new challenge, both this year and previously, but he stayed and performed brilliantly. This year he again expressed the desire for a fresh challenge, and we brought in Suzuki as an alternative. At the moment we have two great goalkeepers, and we will see what happens." Overall, the upcoming weeks could see significant movement in Villa's squad.
If Watkins departs for Al Hilal, the club may need to replace a proven goal‑scorer, making Jackson a logical target despite his high price tag. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper situation remains fluid, with Suzuki providing immediate competition and Martínez's intentions still under discussion.
Fans can expect a busy transfer window as Villa balance ambition, financial considerations, and the desire to remain competitive on both domestic and European fronts.