ASTON VILLA FC REVEALS OFFICIAL POSITION ON OLLIE WATKINS AMID INTENSIFYING SUMMER EXIT RUMOURS.

ASTON VILLA FC REVEALS OFFICIAL POSITION ON OLLIE WATKINS AMID INTENSIFYING SUMMER EXIT RUMOURS.

Aston Villa have broken their silence on the future of star striker Ollie Watkins, with manager Unai Emery confirming the club has received multiple offers for the England international but insisting any departure must benefit “three ways”: the player, the club, and the team.

Speaking in a candid pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against Brighton, Emery acknowledged the mounting speculation surrounding the 30-year-old, who has scored 108 goals for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2020.

“We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him,” Emery stated bluntly. “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.”

The comments come as Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal intensifies their pursuit of Watkins, having seen multiple bids rejected the most recent worth approximately £45million. Reports indicate Watkins is personally pushing for the move to the Middle East, drawn by the lucrative wages on offer.

“Now he is our player, there are 10 days, more or less, to finish the transfer window. We will see what happens,” Emery added. “I’m happy with him if he is staying with us, he will continue playing his level. If he is leaving, it’s because it is good for three ways: one is him, another is the club, and another is the team.”

Football Director Weighs In

Aston Villa’s Director of Football Operations, Damian Vidagany, has also addressed the mounting speculation, offering a pragmatic assessment of the club’s position alongside sporting director.

Speaking to a select group of journalists, Vidagany acknowledged that while the club is not actively seeking Watkins’ departure, the realities of modern football and financial regulations mean difficult decisions must sometimes be made .

“We found ourselves in a situation where we had to make an important profit to avoid being in breach with PSR,” Vidagany explained, referencing the club’s recent battle with Premier League profit and sustainability rules .

“There was a bomb with the countdown and we were there to cut the cable. We sorted it out at the last second” .

Villa’s President of Football Operations, revealed that putting Watkins on the market had been considered as one possible solution to the financial crisis . “Another solution was to put Ollie Watkins on the market. It’s an easy one because he’s a top striker,” he admitted. “Or sell the best goalkeeper in the world, Emi Martinez, because we also had offers for him” .

However, Vidagany stressed that the priority was always to protect Emery’s squad. “Our responsibility was to solve the problem and build the best team possible for next season. We could not compromise any success this season,” he said .

“We needed to manage the solution of PSR but not take out one of Unai’s most important players” .

Vidagany also addressed the scale of Villa’s summer overhaul, which has already seen Morgan Rogers depart to Chelsea for a British record £117million, Ezri Konsa to Arsenal for £51million, alongside Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has also formally requested a transfer.

“This is the biggest transition this squad has seen since returning to the Premier League,” Vidagany acknowledged. “Change is uncomfortable, but it is also necessary. We have a plan. We are working intelligently. And we will emerge stronger.”

When pressed on whether Watkins would feature against Brighton on Sunday, Emery offered a telling response: “I don’t know. Maybe you have more information than us.”

If both Watkins and Martinez leave, Villa will have effectively sold more than half of the starting XI that won the Europa League just two months ago.