Aston Villa Faces Key Absences in Premier League Opener Amid Transfer Speculations
Aston Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton will see the notable absence of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez from the matchday squad. Both players are at the center of transfer speculation, with rumors suggesting imminent exits.
Watkins, a forward for Villa, has attracted interest from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. His absence from the traveling squad to the south coast raises more questions about his future with the club.
On the other hand, goalkeeper Martinez also finds himself linked with a move away from Villa Park. His exclusion from the squad results from a lack of match fitness following his recent return from a post-World Cup break.
Manager Unai Emery expressed his desire to keep Watkins but acknowledged that offers have already been made for the England international. “We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him,” Emery stated. He added, “I don’t want to sell him, but it can change because if it’s a good option for him and the club and I can replace him in the squad, this is the routine we have and we did before with the players who are leaving.”
Emery highlighted his confidence in Watkins, noting, “For me, he is a fantastic striker, and we have always believed in him. Now he is our player, there are 10 days more or less to finish the transfer window. We will see what happens; I’m happy with him, and if he is staying with us, he will continue playing at his level. If he is leaving, it’s because it is good for three ways—one is him, another is the club, and another is the team.”
Meanwhile, Martinez was on the verge of joining Juventus, but the move fell through due to a failure to agree on a transfer fee between the clubs. To prepare for a potential departure of Martinez, Villa secured the signing of Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30 million, who had also drawn interest from Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Although Suzuki starts on the bench against Brighton, last season’s backup keeper Marco Bizot will take the position in goal at the Amex Stadium. Addressing Martinez’s situation, Emery remarked, “We have two excellent goalkeepers; of course, we signed Suzuki not for the future but for now. He showed his capacity to perform at our level. He will need to adapt to us, but he is capable of playing at this level.”
Emery highlighted Martinez’s aspirations for new challenges in his career, noting, “Even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change for his challenges. He didn’t do it last year, and he performed fantastically with us. This year, again, he transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge, and we decided to sign Suzuki because I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper.”
Aston Villa has already seen significant changes to their squad, having sold four starters from the team that won the Europa League two months ago. The latest departure was Ezri Konsa, who moved to Arsenal for £51 million, following Morgan Rogers’ record £117 million transfer to Chelsea, along with the exits of Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.
Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez were absent from Aston Villa’s matchday squad named to face Brighton in their Premier League opener amid rumours of an imminent exit for both.
Villa frontman Watkins is wanted by Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, and his omission from the travelling squad to the south coast will only heighten speculation.
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Goalkeeper Martinez has also been heavily linked with a departure from Villa Park, as he was last summer, but misses out on the squad due to a lack of match fitness following a recent return from his post-World Cup break.
Manager Unai Emery says he wants to keep Watkins but has already confirmed that bids have been made for the England international.
“We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him,” said Emery.
“I don’t want to sell him but it can change because if it’s a good option for him and the club and I can replace him in the squad, this is the routine we have and we did before with the players who are leaving.
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“With Ollie, he is here, for me he is a fantastic striker, we have always believed in him.
“Now he is our player, there are 10 days more or less to finish the transfer window, we will see what happens, I’m happy with him, if he is staying with us he will continue playing his level.
“If he leaving it’s because it is good for three ways, one is him, another is the club and another is the team.”
Martinez, meanwhile, was on the verge of joining Juventus before a move collapsed over a failure to agree a fee between clubs.
Villa seem to have made plans in the event of the Argentinian’s exit, signing Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30m, who was also a target of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Suzuki starts on the bench against Brighton, however, with last season’s back-up stopper Marco Bizot in between the sticks at the Amex Stadium.
On the situation concerning Martinez, Emery added: “We have two excellent goalkeepers, of course we signed Suzuki not for the future but for now. He showed his capacity to get his performance to our level. He will need to adapt to us but he is playing at this level.
“Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career.
“Even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change for his challenges.
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“He didn’t do it last year and he performed fantastic with us. This year, again, he transmitted us the possibility to have another challenge and we decided to sign Suzuki because I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper.”
Villa have already sold four of the starting XI that won the Europa League two months ago. Ezri Konsa became the latest to leave in a £51m move to champions Arsenal, following Morgan Rogers’ record £117m Chelsea switch, along with the departures of Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.
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