Aston Villa are preparing for another approach from Saudi club Al-Hilal for striker Ollie Watkins, having already turned down an offer worth close to £40 million for the forward.
Al-Hilal have made no secret of their interest in Watkins, who stands as Villa's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. The 30-year-old England international has reached double figures in the top flight in each of his six seasons at the club since arriving from Brentford, establishing himself as a key figure under Unai Emery.
Watkins still has two years remaining on his current contract, but that has not deterred Al-Hilal's pursuit. Should Villa eventually sanction a sale, the club would move quickly to identify a replacement. Emery is understood to hold Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson in high regard, though the Blues' reported valuation of £65 million is seen as a significant obstacle to any potential deal.
There is a recognition within Villa's hierarchy that any major signing before the transfer window closes would likely need to be funded by a further high-profile departure, given the constraints imposed by the Premier League's financial regulations.
Emery has already overseen considerable turnover in his squad this summer following the exits of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, who moved to Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. The sale of Rogers, in particular, was a landmark deal worth £117 million, making him the most expensive British player in history.
On the incoming side, Villa have moved to strengthen their goalkeeping options by signing Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30 million. Suzuki is set to become the first Japanese goalkeeper to feature in the Premier League and arrives as Villa look to plan for the future amid uncertainty over Emiliano Martínez's status at the club.
The club have also been active elsewhere in the market, completing a £17 million move for Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid. Villa remain engaged in negotiations with Bayern Munich over a potential deal for João Palhinha, while discussions continue with West Ham regarding a possible transfer for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Further additions this summer have included Johan Manzambi, signed from Freiburg in a club-record £52 million transaction, and Joao Gomes, who joined from Wolves for £38 million. The scale of investment underlines Emery's determination to reshape and refresh his squad following last season's departures.
Villa could yet see further outgoings before the window shuts. The club are working to secure a new destination for Martínez, whose long-term future at Villa Park remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Arsenal are said to retain interest in signing England defender Ezri Konsa, which could open the door to additional squad changes.
Away from transfer business, Emery has been mindful of managing his players' workloads following an extended season that included World Cup commitments. Watkins, along with Martínez and Konsa, was given an extended four-week break after the tournament to aid recovery.
According to Emery, Watkins had actually offered to feature in Villa's Super Cup fixture last week, but the manager opted to prioritize the striker's continued rest ahead of the new campaign.
As the transfer deadline approaches, all eyes remain on Villa Park to see whether Al-Hilal's renewed interest in Watkins will escalate into a deal that could reshape both the club's attacking options and their summer spending plans.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.