Headline: Aston Villa Faces Tough Decisions as Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez’s Futures Come Under Scrutiny
Aston Villa finds itself at a crossroads as it prepares for the new Premier League season. Just a year after a similar situation involving Emiliano Martinez’s potential move to Manchester United, the club is now grappling with uncertainty over striker Ollie Watkins. In the lead-up to their season opener against Brighton on Sunday, head coach Unai Emery was tight-lipped when questioned about Watkins’ absence from the match. “This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence,” Emery responded.
Villa suffered a disheartening 4-0 loss, conceding all four goals in the opening 31 minutes, and faced further setbacks as debutant Joao Gomes received a red card. This opening defeat has intensified scrutiny on the team, especially following four failed offers from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for Watkins. As the transfer deadline approaches next Tuesday, Villa is expected to hold firm on their asking price for the all-time record Premier League goalscorer.
The offers from Al-Hilal, close to £40 million, do not meet Villa’s financial expectations. As negotiations unfold, the club appears determined to retain Watkins, despite being open to discussions given Emery’s prior remarks regarding the striker’s possible departure.
In an added complication, Al-Hilal, which recently signed Crysensio Summerville from West Ham, must first offload one of their overseas players to accommodate Watkins, indicating multiple layers to the ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, Watkins has been training separately after returning from a break post-World Cup and has allegedly expressed a desire to move away from Villa.
There have been no public statements from Watkins or his agents regarding the situation, leaving many questions unanswered, especially regarding Emery’s cryptic “silence” response about Watkins’ absence from the Brighton game. This raises doubts about whether Villa sees the potential financial windfall from selling a striker approaching 31 as a smart business move.
Watkins, who has scored 108 goals in 278 games since his transfer from Brentford for a record £28 million, has played a pivotal role in Villa’s growth over the past six years. His last outing for the club was memorable—helping Villa lift the Europa League trophy in Istanbul, marking their first major trophy in 30 years.
His potential departure stands out as one of the most emotional exits of the summer, reflecting the depth of his connection to the club. Known for his grounded demeanor and commitment to football, the team’s current predicament contrasts sharply with previous seasons, where his dedication and performance were on full display.
Alongside the Watkins situation, Villa must also navigate the future of Martinez, who has also experienced transfer turbulence this summer. A move to Juventus fell through earlier, leaving Villa to manage the complexities surrounding their goalkeeper’s position after signing Zion Suzuki.
Finding a replacement for Watkins will prove more challenging than sourcing a successor for Ezri Konsa, for whom Villa has already submitted two bids to Southampton. While Tammy Abraham’s situation remains steady, with no interest in leaving Villa, the dynamics of Watkins’ potential transfer could alter those circumstances.
Head coach Emery continues to explore new options, including interest in Nicolas Jackson, while no direct communication has occurred regarding Joshua Zirkzee. As the club heads into this critical phase with several high-profile exits, preserving core talent like Watkins becomes paramount for Villa’s ongoing aspirations.
Aston Villa have been here before.
Last year, it was Emi Martinez looking to leave for Manchester United. When asked about the Argentina goalkeeper’s absence from last season’s opening league match against Crystal Palace, head coach Unai Emery just repeated replacement Marco Bizot’s name several times.
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Twelve months on, for their Premier League opener at Brighton on Sunday, Ollie Watkins was the name to make Emery bristle.
“This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence,” he said, when asked why the striker was not included.
That Villa lost 4-0 – conceding all four in a calamitous opening 31 minutes before having debutant Joao Gomes sent off – merely added added to the perceived insult.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have had four offers rejected for Watkins – whose time at Villa now appears to be at a tumultuous end.
What’s going on?
Al-Hilal, who have offered close to £40m, are not near to Aston Villa’s asking price. As next Tuesday’s transfer deadline nears, Villa will play hardball for their all-time record Premier League goalscorer.
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A deal is still believed to be some way off, even if Emery revealed last week the striker could leave.
Al-Hilal, who signed Crysensio Summerville from West Ham in July, are likely to need to move one of their overseas players to make room for Watkins, despite loaning Darwin Nunez to Diriyah last week, so there are other moving parts in the deal.
Watkins has been training on his own, having returned from an extended break following the World Cup and is understood to have made his feelings clear to the Villa hierarchy about moving.
There have been no public comments from Watkins or his representatives but he is understood to be open to the move.
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They have also kept quiet about Emery’s response – particularly his enigmatic “silence” answer to Sky Sports’ question on why his striker was not involved at Brighton, which appeared to lay the blame at Watkins’ door.
Another unanswered question is whether Villa see the Saudi money for a striker turning 31 in December – and who had been in and out of Emery’s team last season – as a good deal.
Perhaps the very real pain at this potential break-up is the reason for the difficulties.
The 30-year-old has 108 goals in 278 games for Villa after joining from Brentford for a then-record £28m and has been synonymous with Villa’s rise of the past six years.
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The triumphant night in Istanbul, when Watkins helped Villa end their 30-year wait for a trophy as they beat Freiburg to win the Europa League, currently stands to be his last game for the club.
His departure would be the most emotional of this summer’s big exits – as while Ezri Konsa’s influence was crucial, Watkins’ goals, work-rate and nature made him one of Villa’s poster boys.
He is a grounded and family-orientated individual who enjoys the occasional game of golf but always focuses on his football.
But he has been in this position before, although at a lower level.
Having initially been left out by Paul Tisdale at Exeter amid interest from Derby in 2017, he pleaded with the manager to play and came off the bench to score in a win against Wycombe.
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Given he has that attitude and desire, those at Villa are surprised at how the relationship with Watkins is ending. It was not expected to be like this.
Had it been someone different, a player who had previously not been a manager’s dream to work with, Emery’s response might have been more indifferent.
Villa’s transfer trouble before deadline
Along with Watkins, Villa must resolve Martinez’s future after a second summer of discontent from the Argentina international.
A move to Juventus fell through earlier this month, as they were unwilling to meet Villa’s financial demands, and a solution must be found for the 33-year-old after the signing of Zion Suzuki to become the club’s number one.
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Signing a striker to replace Watkins will be harder than sourcing Konsa’s replacement – on which Villa are already working, having had two bids rejected by Southampton for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Brian Madjo’s availability, after VIlla won their battle against Fifa to register him, gives Emery an additional option, although at 17 the striker cannot be expected to carry the burden.
Villa have been open to letting Tammy Abraham leave but Watkins’ increasingly likely departure will have an impact on that thinking.
Striker Abraham, who joined from Besiktas in January, has not been looking for any Villa Park exit and remains happy at the club.
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Nicolas Jackson remains a top target for Emery, who worked with the Chelsea forward at Villarreal, while there has been no direct contact with Manchester United over Joshua Zirkzee.
Emery needs to find new heroes after the exits of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans – two Istanbul goalscorers – along with Lucas Digne and Konsa.
But if Watkins goes, his departure will cut the deepest.
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