The Hard Tackle lists three strikers Aston Villa should pursue to replace Ollie Watkins amid his desire to complete a summer move to Al-Hilal.
The winds of change are blowing violently through Villa Park, and not in the manner Unai Emery would have hoped ahead of a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League campaign. After over six seasons, 278 appearances, and 108 goals, Ollie Watkins’s era-defining tenure as Aston Villa’s attacking spearhead is rapidly approaching an abrupt and evidently bitter end.
Relentless interest from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal has created a sea of storm at the West Midlands club, and widespread reports indicate that the 30-year-old England international has actively expressed his desire to leave Birmingham for the Middle East. The friction behind the scenes have seemingly reached a boiling point, as seen on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Watkins was entirely omitted from the matchday squad as Villa traveled to the Amex Stadium, leaving a threadbare attack led by a makeshift frontline featuring George Hemmings, Emiliano Buendia, and Ross Barkley. The result was an unmitigated disaster: a historical 4-0 thrashing by Brighton & Hove Albion that saw Villa ship four goals in the opening 31 minutes, with debutant Joao Gomes before half-time.
When pressed on Watkins’s absence and whether the striker had effectively forced his way out, a visibly tense Unai Emery refused to shield his star player. “This question is for him. You can call his agent and try to get his answer,” Emery stated during a frosty post-match press conference, answering further questions regarding the striker with absolute, defiant “silence”.
With the relationship seemingly broken beyond repair and just days left in the transfer window, Monchi and the Villa recruitment team must pivot instantly. Replacing Watkins requires more than a simple goalscorer; it requires a highly well-rounded, tactically flexible modern striker who can replicate his elite off-the-ball running, high-intensity pressing, and creative link-up play. Fortunately, the market presents three realistic, stylistically cohesive options capable of filling the void.
Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson has developed into one of Europe’s most dynamic forwards since arriving in the Premier League. Operating under heavy scrutiny at Stamford Bridge, his capacity to lead a high line, pull defenders out of position, and drive forward with the ball makes him the absolute mirror image of what Unai Emery demands from a modern number nine.
With Chelsea reportedly willing to listen to offers around £65 million as they reshape their squad, Aston Villa have already positioned themselves as strong suitors.
- Elite Spatial Awareness: Jackson possesses the same relentless channel-running instinct as Watkins, stretching defensive blocks to create pockets of space for secondary runners.
- Underlying Numbers: Averaging an impressive 0.48 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90, Jackson’s data points to a forward who consistently gets into premium scoring positions.
- Ball-Carrying and Progression: Ranking in the upper 84th percentile for progressive carries (2.11 per 90), he is highly effective at driving transitions from deeper positions.
- The Risk Factor: Despite his elite build-up play, Jackson’s history of underperforming his cumulative expected goals by significant margins indicates a streakiness in front of goal that a transitioning Villa side can ill afford.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
If Aston Villa want to pivot toward a slightly more robust physical profile without sacrificing the penalty-box efficiency that Ollie Watkins provided, Jean-Philippe Mateta is the perfect candidate. The Frenchman has been a revelation for Crystal Palace and his national team, morphing into a clinical, bullying focal point who thrives on service from wide areas. However, while Mateta is a highly realistic domestic target, Villa may face stiff competition from Manchester United and other European bigwigs.
- Comparable Efficiency: Mateta matches Watkins’s output step-for-step, averaging 0.49 goals per 90 minutes in a less dominant Crystal Palace side.
- Superior Box Presence: He boasts a formidable 0.59 expected goals (xG) per 90, meaning his movement allows him to get higher-quality looks than Watkins (0.48 xG).
- Aerial Target and Release Valve: Mateta wins 2.71 aerial duels per 90 compared to Watkins’s modest 1.14, giving Emery a reliable long-ball exit strategy under high press.
- The Risk Factor: Stepping into his late 20s, Mateta represents a short-term fix rather than a long-term asset, meaning his high transfer fee will yield zero future sell-on value for Monchi’s strict financial sustainability model. That said, his presence aligns with Brian Madjo’s career trajectory, as the youngster can eventually take over as the first-choice striker when it’s time to phase out the Frenchman.
Nicolo Tresoldi
For a tactical architecture like Unai Emery’s, which values transitional speed, immense tactical fluidity, and an incredibly high ceiling, Nicolo Tresoldi has emerged as an exceptional option. The 22-year-old German under-21 international has become one of Europe’s most heavily scouted young forwards, proving his baseline quality in the Jupiler Pro League.
While elite clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United are actively circling the forward, Club Brugge’s €45-50 million valuation remains firmly within reach for an Aston Villa side armed with UEFA Champions League pull and Al-Hilal’s potential cash injections.
- Elite Local Form: Tresoldi has started the 2026/27 season on fire for Club Brugge, scoring decisive, regular-season match-winners against Cercle Brugge, KV Kortrijk, and OH Leuven. This follows an exceptional 2025/26 campaign, where the 22-year-old managed 23 goals and nine assists to contribute to Club Brugge’s Jupiler Pro League triumph.
- High-Volume Goalscorer: Having racked up a substantial 27 goals in 62 appearances for the Belgian outfit, his underlying clinical metrics show a forward outperforming his developmental curve.
- Watkins-like Link Play: Known for his physical maturity and deep drop-ins, Tresoldi averages over 1.2 shot-creating live passes per 90, functioning as an offensive engine.
- The Risk Factor: Moving directly from the Belgian Pro League to leading a Premier League and UEFA Champions League attack is a tremendous jump, risking a lengthy adaptation period that Aston Villa’s immediate crisis cannot tolerate.
Honourable Mentions
Should negotiations for the aforemention trio stall, several highly compelling backup profiles exist on the market. Struggling Juventus striker Jonathan David remains an enticing option due to his European pedigree, offering seamless transition mechanics. Liam Delap represents a risky, yet powerful domestic alternative, having recently produced an outstanding 12-goal campaign with Ipswich Town.
In terms of elite continental goalscorers, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram provide Champions League-proven star power, though their wage demands and club stances make them significantly harder to detach late in the window. Finally, Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade remains a fascinating, highly versatile option if Unai Emery opts to alter his tactical landscape toward a fluid second-striker system.
