Aston Villa Prepare for Al-Hilal's Bid for Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa are steeling themselves for a fresh bid from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins after turning down an offer of almost £40m for their leading Premier League marksman.

The Saudi Pro League side are intent on landing Villa’s all-time top scorer in the competition, a striker who has hit double figures in each of his six top-flight seasons since arriving from Brentford. Villa have two years left to run on the 30-year-old England forward’s contract, but the sense around the club is that Al-Hilal are not walking away.

If Villa do cash in, they will move for a replacement. Unai Emery is a firm admirer of Nicolas Jackson, whose movement and pressing fit the Spaniard’s template. But Chelsea’s £65m valuation is viewed at Villa Park as too steep for now, a number that effectively shuts down any immediate deal.

That financial reality runs deeper than one striker. Inside Villa, there is an acceptance that any big-name arrival before the window closes will almost certainly have to be funded by another major outgoing, with the club working within the tight margins of the Premier League’s financial rules.

Emery has already had to rip up and redraw large parts of his squad this summer. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have all departed, joining Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Rogers went in a deal worth £117m, a fee that makes him the most expensive British player and gives Villa significant room on their balance sheet, even if it leaves a creative void.

Between the posts, change is already locked in. Zion Suzuki has arrived from Parma for £30m as the chosen successor to Emiliano Martínez, whose future remains unresolved and who Villa are actively hoping to move on. Suzuki is poised to become the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Premier League, a landmark signing and a clear signal of Villa’s willingness to look beyond traditional markets.

The churn does not stop there. Villa have wrapped up a £17m move for Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid and are still in negotiations with Bayern Munich over João Palhinha and with West Ham over Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as Emery seeks to add steel and athleticism in key areas.

Big money has already gone out of the door. Johan Manzambi has joined from Freiburg for a club-record £52m, while Joao Gomes has arrived from Wolves in a £38m deal, underlining the scale of the rebuild and the trust placed in Emery’s vision.

More exits could follow. Villa are actively searching for a new club for Martínez, and Arsenal’s interest in England defender Ezri Konsa has not gone away.

Everything, though, circles back to Watkins. If Al-Hilal return with a bid that tests Villa’s resolve, does Emery cling to his proven goalscorer or trade him to unlock the next phase of this high-wire rebuild?