Aston Villa Target Nicolas Jackson Amid Ollie Watkins Pressure

Aston Villa are preparing to move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson if the Saudi pursuit of Ollie Watkins finally breaks their resistance.

Chelsea value Jackson at around £65m and, crucially, are only interested in a permanent sale. Villa know the number and know the player. Unai Emery coached him at Villarreal and rates him highly. If Watkins goes, Jackson is at the top of the list.

The problem? Al Hilal are not going away.

Al Hilal push, Villa resist

The Saudi club remain in talks for Watkins and have already seen at least one bid knocked back, with their first offer understood to be in the region of £38.5m. Villa do not want to sell. That has been the stance all summer.

But Al Hilal are pushing hard to land the England international, who is open to the move to Saudi Arabia. They see him as a potential replacement for Karim Benzema and are working on a way to resolve the Frenchman’s contract situation to clear the path.

Watkins, 30, is coming off a standout season: 16 Premier League goals, a Europa League triumph with Villa and another campaign of Champions League football secured. His form carried him into England’s 2026 World Cup squad. That level of output is exactly why Villa are reluctant to cash in – and exactly why Al Hilal are determined to test their resolve.

Emery: ‘We have an issue with him’

Emery did not dodge the subject in his pre-match press conference before facing Brighton on Sunday.

"We have an issue with him, it is clear," he 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."

Pressed on whether Watkins had actually asked 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."

The message is clear: Villa will not be bounced into a sale, but if the money and the replacement are right, the door is not bolted shut.

Jackson on standby – and Atletico lurking

If that door opens, Villa are ready to act.

Chelsea want to cash in on Jackson after his loan spell at Bayern Munich last season, and relations between the two Premier League clubs are described as excellent at board level. They have already done significant business this summer, including the record-breaking deal for Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho’s move to claret and blue.

That existing line of communication matters in a late-window scramble. Villa know Chelsea’s stance. Chelsea know Villa may soon be armed with Saudi money.

Atletico Madrid are also in the frame for Jackson but are trying to structure a loan deal. That does not appeal to Chelsea, who are pushing for a clean, permanent sale. If Villa lose Watkins and come in with cash, they instantly move to the front of the queue.

Jackson, 23, would arrive as a forward Emery trusts and understands, having worked under him at Villarreal. The fit is obvious. The timing depends entirely on Watkins.

Martinez pushes for ‘another challenge’

While the focus sits on the striker situation, Villa’s goalkeeper picture is also shifting.

Emiliano Martinez has told the club he wants to leave and pursue "another challenge" in his career, according to Emery. A move to Juventus collapsed earlier in the window, but the Argentina international remains open to a change.

Villa, though, have already moved to protect themselves. Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki has joined from Parma and, as Emery stressed, he has not been signed just to sit and wait.

"We have two excellent keepers," Emery 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."

"Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not just now and even last year, and 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."

So Villa stand on the brink of a pivotal 10 days: a star striker courted by Saudi money, a ready-made replacement lined up at Chelsea, and a World Cup-winning goalkeeper eyeing the exit while his successor waits in the wings.

The squad that emerges on the other side could define how far Emery’s side can really go in Europe and at home this season.