Ollie Watkins' Absence at Brighton: A Question for Him - Unai Emery
BBC Sport reports on Aston Villa manager Unai Emery's comments regarding forward Ollie Watkins' absence in their 4-0 defeat to Brighton.
Unai Emery on Watkins' exclusion: "This question is for him. You can call him and try to get his answer. The players here wanted to play..."
Emery hints that the decision to leave out Watkins, who was linked with a move to Saudi club Al-Hilal, is a matter for the player himself.
John McGinn, Villa's captain, further supports Emery, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation.
The text highlights the significant changes within the Aston Villa squad this summer, following their Europa League triumph in May. Several key players have left, including Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne. The club is navigating a tight transfer window while adhering to Uefa's squad cost ratio regulations.