Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins Transfer Saga Leaves Club Shellshocked
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Aston Villa: Transfer News and Rumors
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Aston Villa have been through this 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 simply repeated backup Marco Bizot's name multiple times.
Twelve months on, as Villa opened their Premier League campaign at Brighton on Sunday, Ollie Watkins was the name that made Emery bristle. "This question is for him," he said, pausing before answering with a resounding silence when asked why Watkins wasn't included in the squad.
That Villa lost 4-0—conceding all four goals within 31 disastrous minutes—before having debutant Joao Gomes sent off only 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 drawing to a tumultuous end.
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Al-Hilal, who have bid close to £40 million ($52 million), are still some way off Villa's asking price. As the transfer deadline looms next Tuesday, Villa are expected to hold firm on their valuation of their all-time record Premier League goalscorer.
A deal appears distant, even if Emery admitted last week that Watkins could leave. Al-Hilal, who signed Cristenssen Summerville from West Ham in July, might need to move one of their foreign players to make room for Watkins; they recently loaned Darwin Nunez to Diriyah.
Watkins, who has been training alone after an extended break following the World Cup, is understood to have expressed his desire to leave Villa. While there have been no public statements from Watkins or his representatives, he is reportedly open to a move.
Emery's enigmatic silence when asked about Watkins' absence from the Brighton match drew further questions. Another unanswered query is whether Villa view the Saudi money for a 30-year-old striker with a history of in and out of form as a good deal. Perhaps the raw emotion behind this potential breakup explains the difficulties.
The 30-year-old has scored 108 goals in 278 games for Villa since joining from Brentford for a then-record £28 million. He has been integral to Villa's rise over the past six years, featuring on the triumphant night in Istanbul when Villa won the Europa League against Freiburg—a game that currently stands as his likely last for the club.