Al Hilal Pursues Ollie Watkins Amidst Villa's Turbulent Summer

Al Hilal have opened talks with Aston Villa over a deal for striker Ollie Watkins, as the Saudi club line up a high-profile successor to Karim Benzema.

One bid has already been rejected, but discussions are continuing as Al Hilal push to find a fee and structure Villa will accept. The Saudi side want Watkins as a central piece of their attack while they work on a solution to Benzema’s contract that would allow the Frenchman to leave.

Benzema only joined Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February on an 18-month deal and made an instant impact, scoring 10 goals in 15 games in Riyadh. His future, though, has quickly turned uncertain, prompting Al Hilal to move aggressively in the market.

Watkins is at the heart of that plan. The 30-year-old is coming off a standout season in which he hit 16 Premier League goals, driving Aston Villa to Europa League glory and securing another year of Champions League football at Villa Park. His form also earned him a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, underlining his status at the top level.

Since arriving from Brentford in 2020, Watkins has grown into one of Villa’s defining figures, passing the 100-goal mark for the club and becoming the focal point of Unai Emery’s attack. Losing him now would rip a hole in Villa’s forward line at a time when the club is already navigating a turbulent summer.

Villa’s uneasy summer

The mood around Villa Park had already darkened. The exits of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans cast a shadow over pre-season, raising questions about depth and direction just as the club returned to Europe’s elite.

For a brief spell, the football eased the anxiety. Villa’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final, even in defeat, offered a glimpse of something exciting. New signing Joao Gomes looked sharp, while 17-year-old Brian Madjo seized the stage again after catching the eye throughout pre-season.

Then came another setback. Reports of injuries to both Gomes and Madjo landed just as Emery’s side prepared for their Premier League opener against Brighton. They join Amadou Onana and new signing Johan Manzambi on the treatment table, thinning a squad that now has to cope with domestic and European demands.

Amid all that, Al Hilal have chosen their moment to test Villa’s resolve over Watkins. For a club aiming to build on a Europa League triumph and sustain a Champions League campaign, the question is stark: can they afford to cash in on their main striker, or does this become the battle that defines their season?