Ollie Watkins has been left out of Aston Villa's squad for their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion amid interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old striker has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League side, with several bids reportedly rejected by Villa.
Watkins omitted from 18-man squad
Watkins was not included in the 18-man squad selected by manager Unai Emery for Sunday's match, with midfielder Emi Buendia instead chosen to lead the line. The decision has fuelled speculation that the England international's future lies away from Villa Park.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Emery acknowledged the situation but insisted he was reluctant to sell Watkins. "We have an issue with him, it's clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him," he said.
Emery's stance on potential departure
"I don't want to sell him but 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 and we did before with the players who are leaving," Emery added. "With Ollie, he is here, for me he is a fantastic striker, we have always believed in him. Now he is our player, there are 10 days more or less to finish the transfer window, we will see what happens, I'm happy with him, if he is staying with us he will continue playing his level."
When asked by Sky Sports before Villa's game against Newcastle whether Watkins' absence meant he had played his last game for the club, Emery simply replied: "Silence."
Watkins' Villa legacy and summer exodus
Watkins still has two years left on his contract with Villa, having joined from Brentford in 2020. Since then, he has made 278 appearances and scored 108 goals, helping the club win the Europa League in the summer and secure three seasons in European competition. He has also earned 24 caps for England, scoring seven times.
Should the move to the Middle East go through, Watkins would become the latest high-profile departure from Villa this summer. Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea in a big-money move, while Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa have moved to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively. Lucas Digne has also left, rejoining former club Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa have attempted to rebuild their squad in the aftermath of the exodus, with big-money signings including Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes, while they completed a double deal for Matteo Ruggeri and Zion Suzuki earlier this week. Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have also arrived on loan from Chelsea and West Ham.
