Aston Villa Targets Nicolas Jackson as Ollie Watkins Faces Pressure

Aston Villa are preparing to move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson if they lose Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal, with the Saudi club refusing to back off in their pursuit of the England striker.

Chelsea value Jackson at around £65m and are only interested in a permanent sale after his season-long loan at Bayern Munich. Atletico Madrid are also in the frame, but the Spanish side would prefer a loan, putting Villa in a stronger position if they cash in on Watkins.

Al Hilal turn the screw on Watkins

Al Hilal remain locked in talks over Watkins, who is understood to be keen on a switch to Saudi Arabia. At least one bid has already been rejected, with their opening offer coming in at around £38.5m.

Villa do not want to sell. Watkins is central to Unai Emery’s project, having scored 16 league goals last season and spearheaded the club’s Europa League triumph and return to the Champions League. He was rewarded with a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.

But Al Hilal see him as a prime candidate to replace Karim Benzema and are pushing hard, while also working on a way to resolve the Frenchman’s contract situation to allow him to leave.

Emery: ‘We have an issue with him’

Emery did not hide the tension around Watkins’ future when he faced the media before Sunday’s game against Brighton.

“We have an issue with him, it is clear,” the Villa manager said. “We had offers for him but he is our player. I don't want to sell him but it can change if it is a good option for him, the club and I can replace him in the squad.

“He is here and is a fantastic striker. We have always believed and supported him, he did it.

“There is 10 days to finish the transfer window, we will see. He is our player and I am happy with him.”

Asked whether Watkins had formally requested to leave, Emery replied: “I don't know, maybe you have more information than us! Football is changing.

“The players are professional and Watkins is our player.”

Jackson in the frame – and familiar to Emery

If Watkins does go, Villa are ready. Jackson is high on their list and comes with a crucial advantage: Emery knows him well.

The pair worked together at Villarreal, where Jackson’s pace and direct running first caught wider attention. Chelsea now want to cash in, and relations between the London club and Villa are described as very strong at boardroom level.

That relationship has already produced two major deals this summer, including the record-breaking move for Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho’s switch to claret and blue. A Jackson transfer would extend a busy trading line between the clubs.

Atletico Madrid’s interest lingers in the background, but their preference for a loan does not match Chelsea’s stance. If Villa bank a sizeable fee for Watkins, they would be well placed to meet Chelsea’s demands.

Martinez pushes for ‘another challenge’

Watkins is not the only pillar of Emery’s side whose future is uncertain.

The head coach confirmed that Emiliano Martinez has again expressed a desire to move on and test himself elsewhere, even though a proposed transfer to Juventus fell through earlier in the window.

“Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not just now and even last year,” Emery said. “He was thinking in case he had a possibility to change his challenges, but he stayed and performed fantastic.

“This year, again, he transmitted to us for a new challenge, and we signed Suzuki to replace him. But the scenario we have is that we have two great goalkeepers. We will see what will happen.”

Villa have already signed Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma, and Emery made it clear the 21-year-old has not arrived merely as a project.

“We have two excellent keepers,” he said. “We have signed Suzuki not for the future, but for now. He has shown his capacity and that he can play at our level.”

A squad on the brink of change

With the window ticking down and major offers circling, Villa stand at a crossroads. Their Europa League winners and Champions League qualifiers could look very different in a matter of days.

If Al Hilal finally hit the number that forces Villa to consider life after Watkins, the domino that brings Nicolas Jackson back under Emery’s command may fall just as quickly.