Aston Villa are seeking £55 million to sell Ollie Watkins, with Al-Hilal considering a fresh bid after already seeing one offer rejected.
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are not opposed to selling Watkins during this transfer window but want at least £55 million for the striker. Al-Hilal are the leading contenders for his signature after already seeing one offer rejected, although the Saudi club believe they can negotiate a deal below Villa’s asking price.
Aston Villa face an important decision over Watkins’ future, with the striker attracting serious interest from Al-Hilal. According to Sacha Tavolieri, Al-Hilal are considering a move away from Karim Benzema, which could position Watkins as his replacement.
Al-Hilal have already seen a bid rejected by Aston Villa, with The Athletic reporting that the offer was worth around £45 million. Villa are reportedly open to selling the striker if Al-Hilal return with a proposal close to £55 million, which they consider to be Watkins’ value.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Watkins is receptive to the move. Aston Villa now face pressure to sell a player open to a transfer, with only two years remaining on his contract.
Al-Hilal to continue Watkins pursuit?
The Saudi club show no signs of abandoning their interest. TEAMtalk reports that Al-Hilal believe they could complete the transfer for around £50 million. An offer near that figure would approach Villa’s asking price, potentially prompting negotiation.
The Premier League club could be willing to negotiate, particularly if Watkins remains open to the move. Should Aston Villa sell, they would need to find a replacement for the striker, who joined the club from Brentford for £28 million in 2020.
Watkins has made 276 appearances for Villa and scored 108 goals during that period. He has been instrumental in the club’s recent success under Unai Emery, helping them qualify for the Champions League on two occasions and win the Europa League last season.
How will Villa replace Watkins?
Replacing Watkins would be a difficult task given his importance to Villa’s attack. However, from a financial perspective, selling him to Al-Hilal could benefit the club, particularly with his market value likely to decline as he enters the final two years of his contract.
Nicolas Jackson has been mentioned as a potential replacement in recent weeks. If Aston Villa sell Watkins, talks with Chelsea could follow, with the Senegalese international viewed as a possible option to bolster the West Midlands club’s attacking options.
