Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal regarding a transfer to the Saudi club.
This development adds to the challenges facing Unai Emery, the manager of the Birmingham-based club. Villa have already seen key departures this summer, including Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, Luca Digne to Paris Saint-Germain, and Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.
Compounding Villa’s difficulties, crucial midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the entire season due to a serious knee injury.
In response, Emery has bolstered his squad by signing Johan Manzambi, João Gomes, and Alejandro Garnacho. Additionally, the transfer of Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid is anticipated.
Now, another blow looms. According to Sky Sports journalist Sasha Tavolieri, Saudi club Al-Hilal has prioritized securing Watkins in the current transfer window as they aim to replace Karim Benzema.
Al-Hilal is actively negotiating with Benzema for his departure this month. However, the French forward is demanding full payment for the final year of his contract before agreeing to move. Talks are ongoing as both parties seek a resolution.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal has started exploring attacking alternatives, with Watkins emerging as their primary target. Reports indicate that the striker has already agreed to personal terms with the Saudi side.
At this stage, no direct negotiations have taken place between Al-Hilal and Aston Villa, as the club needs to finalize Benzema’s exit before pursuing any replacement.
Watkins has been a pivotal figure for Emery since the manager’s arrival, and it is understandable that Aston Villa would be reluctant to let him go. Replacing the England international, widely regarded as an elite player, will be a significant challenge. Nevertheless, the financial incentives offered by Saudi Arabia to both players and clubs make this transfer possibility difficult to dismiss.
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