Al Hilal Pursues Ollie Watkins Amid Aston Villa's Turbulent Season
Al Hilal have opened talks with Aston Villa over a deal for striker Ollie Watkins, testing the resolve of a club already braced for a turbulent start to the season.
The Saudi side have seen an initial offer rejected but remain at the table, with discussions ongoing as they search for an agreement. Watkins has been identified as a leading candidate to replace Karim Benzema, whose own future is under review as Al Hilal explore ways to untangle his current contract and sanction his exit.
Benzema only arrived at Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February on an 18‑month deal and started brightly, hitting 10 goals in 15 games in Riyadh. Now his situation hangs in the balance, and Al Hilal are moving quickly to ensure they are not left short in the No 9 position.
Watkins is an ambitious target. He comes off a standout campaign in which he scored 16 Premier League goals for Aston Villa, spearheading a season that brought Europa League glory and another year of Champions League football to Villa Park. His form was rewarded with a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, underlining his status at the top level.
Since arriving from Brentford in 2020, the 30-year-old has grown into one of Villa’s defining figures in attack, passing the 100-goal mark for the club and becoming central to Unai Emery’s system. Losing him now would rip a sizeable hole in Villa’s plans just as a demanding season looms.
Villa’s uneasy summer
The transfer interest comes at the end of a restless summer at Villa Park. The mood darkened early with the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, departures that cast a shadow over pre-season and raised questions about depth and ambition.
For a brief spell, the clouds parted. Villa’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final, even in defeat, offered a glimpse of something more encouraging. New signing Joao Gomes looked sharp, while 17-year-old Brian Madjo seized his moment, standing out again after an eye-catching pre-season.
Then came another setback. Reports of injuries to both Gomes and Madjo landed just as Villa edge towards their Premier League opener against Brighton. The pair now join Amadou Onana and new signing Johan Manzambi on the treatment table, stretching Emery’s options before a ball has been kicked in the league.
Against that backdrop, Al Hilal’s pursuit of Watkins lands like another test of Villa’s resolve. With Champions League nights returning and injuries already biting, how much risk can they afford to take with their main goalscorer?
