Английн шигшээ багийн довтлогч Олли Уоткинс Саудын Арабын лигийн Аль Хилал руу шилжихийг хүсэж байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ.
Астон Вилла клуб Олли Уоткинсыг багтаа авч үлдэхийг зорьж байгаа ч Саудын Арабын Аль Хилал клуб 45 сая фунт стерлингийн дөрөв дэх саналаа ирүүлснийг татгалзсан байна. 30 настай довтлогч уг шилжилтийг хийхийг хүсэж байгаагаа клубтээ мэдэгджээ. Астон Виллагийн ахлах дасгалжуулагч Унай Эмери тоглогчоо худалдах бодолгүй байгаа ч хэрэв клуб болон тоглогчийн аль алинд нь ашигтай хувилбар гарч ирвэл солилцоо хийх боломжтойг үгүйсгэсэнгүй.
Тус баг ням гарагт Брайтон энд Хоув Альбионы талбайд зочилж, Премьер лигийн 2026-27 оны улирлын нээлтийн тоглолтоо хийнэ. Гэвч Олли Уоткинс уг тоглолтод оролцох эсэх нь тодорхойгүй байгаа бөгөөд Тэмми Абрахам гэмтлийн улмаас тоглох эсэх нь эргэлзээтэй байгаа тул Унай Эмери бүрэлдэхүүн сонгох хүндрэлтэй нүүр тулаад байна.
Астон Вилла энэ зун Аваргуудын лигт өрсөлдөх бүрэлдэхүүнээ зузаатгаж, Йохан Манзамби, Жоао Гомес, Алехандро Гарначо, Зион Сузуки, Аарон Ван-Биссака нарыг эгнээндээ нэгтгэсэн. Хэрэв Олли Уоткинс багаа орхивол Морган Рожерс, Лукас Динь, Юри Тилеманс нарын араас явах баг дахь чухал тоглогчдын нэг болох юм. 2020 онд Брентфордоос ирснээс хойш 278 тоглолтод оролцож, 108 гоол оруулсан Олли Уоткинсыг орлуулах хувилбараар Унай Эмери Челсигийн Николас Жексоныг сонирхож буй аж.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Aston Villa have rejected a fresh bid from Al Hilal for Ollie Watkins, who is pushing for a move to the Saudi Pro League club.
Al Hilal’s fourth and most recent offer for the striker was worth around £45million ($61.4m).
Watkins, 30, has made it clear to Villa that he wants to make the move, and manager Unai Emery admitted on Friday that the club has “an issue” with the England international.
“We have offers for him,” Emery told a press conference. “He’s our player, I dont want to sell him, but that can change because if it’s a good option for him, good option for the club and I can replace him, this is the routine we have.”
Emery added that he does not know if Watkins will feature in Aston Villa’s new-season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
Tammy Abraham, who deputised for Watkins up front in the second half of last season, is a doubt for the game with a groin injury, leaving Emery with a potential selection headache.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Premier League club had rejected a €45m (£38.5m; $52.2m) package from Al Hilal for Watkins.
Manchester United explored a move for Watkins last summer before they eventually signed Benjamin Sesko, while Arsenal held discussions over a possible deal in January 2025.
Unai Emery’s side will play in the Champions League this season. They have signed attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, winger Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham United this summer.
Should Watkins’ departure go through, it would see the England international join a list of important first-team players to depart Villa Park this season. Morgan Rogers has signed for Chelsea, Lucas Digne rejoined Paris Saint-Germain, Youri Tielemans left for Manchester United, while Ezri Konsa is on the verge of joining Arsenal.
Watkins joined Villa in 2020 from Brentford and has made 278 appearances, scoring 108 goals. He was selected by Thomas Tuchel for England’s World Cup squad this summer but only featured twice from the bench during the tournament.
Villa begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a trip to the Amex Stadium.
‘Every player has a price’
Analysis by Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell
This is far from ideal for Emery. The Spaniard admitted there has been more change than expected this summer. While he was full of praise for others who have already left, Emery has been intent on keeping Watkins this summer, reflected in Villa offering the striker a number of new contracts.
However, Al Hilal continue to pursue him and every player has a price. Unai Emery has long admired Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who could be a candidate to replace Watkins in the event that he gets his wish to move to Saudi.
Emery says he does not know if Watkins will feature against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, but it is difficult to envisage as it stands. In turn, it leaves Villa short of players, with Brian Madjo injured and Tammy Abraham a doubt to feature.
