Striker Ollie Watkins could be the next massive name to walk out on Aston Villa, and frankly, coach Unai Emery just can’t promise he’ll stick around. This is a brutal hit for Villa fans right as the new season kicks off, especially after the Europa League win. The England international is reportedly a target for Saudi club Al-Hilal, and Emery has confirmed that offers are on the table for their star.
The Watkins Dilemma and a Clock Ticking
Let’s get real, Watkins is the man. He bagged 21 goals last season alone, a huge part of why Villa even won the Europa League. The guy has racked up 108 goals for Villa since joining in 2020 for £28m, making him the club’s record Premier League scorer. So losing him? That’s a gut punch. Emery is on record saying he wants to keep Watkins, but the situation is tense. “We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him,” Emery admitted. He even hinted at a potential departure, saying “it can change because if it’s a good option for him and the club and I can replace him in the squad, this is the routine we have.” With the transfer window set to close in roughly ten days, this whole situation is on a knife’s edge.
Villa’s Europa League Heroes Are Disappearing
Watkins potentially leaving isn’t even the start of it. This summer has been a full-on exodus. Ezri Konsa is gone to Arsenal for £51m, and Morgan Rogers fetched a record £117m from Chelsea. Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne are also out the door. If Watkins bails, and if goalkeeper Emi Martinez had left too, Villa would have sold six of their starting XI from that Europa League winning squad just two months ago. Speaking of Martinez, his move to Juventus collapsed over a fee disagreement. But don’t worry, they signed Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30m as their new No.1. Emery said Martinez “transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career,” which is a fancy way of saying he wanted out. Martinez won’t even be in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League opener against Brighton because he’s only had one training session after his post-World Cup break. Rough.
So, here we are. Aston Villa kicks off their Premier League season this Sunday at Brighton, and they’re doing it without a significant chunk of their Europa League winning side and a massive question mark over their top scorer. Emery has to figure out what’s next, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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