Ollie Watkins’ omission from Aston Villa’s side at Brighton could prove to be the closing chapter of a dispute that has been building for more than 18 months.
The England striker addressed his team-mates on Monday, outlining his version of events, and is now expected to complete his acrimonious £50million move to Al Hilal.
Watkins’ decision to sit out Villa’s 4-0 defeat at the Amex, despite being the club’s only fit senior striker, deepened the divide between the player, his employers and the supporters. Repairing that damage was always going to be difficult. Yet the dispute did not emerge without warning.
Daily Mail Sport examines the events that led to this point — and considers what Aston Villa’s future may look like without Watkins…
The Arsenal bid
At some stage last week, Watkins held talks with Villa manager Unai Emery. The Spaniard came away convinced that the 30-year-old was determined to join Al Hilal and willing to take significant steps to make the transfer happen.
Watkins did not train last week while waiting for Villa to accept an offer. Al Hilal failed to submit a bid that met the club’s requirements and, once Emery realised the striker would not take part in the preparations, he left him out of the squad to face Brighton. With Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo injured, Villa had no recognised striker and were thrashed. Emery offered little public defence of Watkins, who was subsequently criticised by supporters online.
Unai Emery made no attempt to shield Ollie Watkins after his leading striker was unavailable for Villa’s opening-day fixture at Brighton
Al Hilal, who have former Wolves captain Ruben Neves (far right) and ex-Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly (second from right) in their squad, must match Aston Villa’s £50million valuation
The roots of the dispute can be traced back to a pivotal moment for Villa and Watkins on Boxing Day 2024. Emery had selected the unpredictable but outstanding Jhon Duran ahead of Watkins in the previous three league matches, with the Colombian scoring in each game.
By the time Villa travelled to Newcastle, Duran appeared to have established himself as Emery’s first-choice striker. Villa were aware that Arsenal were looking for a forward and had shown interest in Watkins, a boyhood Gunners supporter.
Duran was then sent off at Newcastle. After serving his suspension, he did not regain his place, with Emery unconvinced that either his form or his attitude justified a recall. When Al Nassr offered £70million for the Colombian, Villa chose to sell a player they were finding increasingly difficult to manage.
Villa were not prepared to lose both strikers in the same transfer window, meaning Watkins’ hoped-for move to Arsenal was blocked after the club’s offers failed to reach Villa’s £65million valuation. The forward was frustrated, but Emery insisted: ‘Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa.’
Emery has seen Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa leave this summer and wanted several experienced players to remain as he began building a new era at the club.
The Villa manager is generally reluctant to block a player who wants to leave, but Watkins’ situation appeared to carry a more personal dimension.
Contrasting positions
Watkins is the leading client of Two Touch, the agency founded by former Arsenal academy player Paolo Vernazza. A transfer to Al Hilal would probably rank among the agency’s biggest deals, while Villa are unhappy with the way Vernazza has managed the situation. The agent may also feel, with the benefit of hindsight, that he could have handled certain matters differently. Daily Mail Sport has attempted to contact the 46-year-old since Sunday, but he has not responded.
Jhon Duran appeared destined to become Villa’s first-choice striker 18 months ago before his dismissal at Newcastle
Aston Villa have already lost players including Youri Tielemans (left) and Morgan Rogers (right) this summer, while Ollie Watkins (centre) could be the next departure
Watkins is believed to earn slightly above £100,000 a week at Villa, but Al Hilal are offering a salary understood to be considerably higher. He has also watched 28-year-old Konsa move to Arsenal for approximately the same fee Villa are seeking from the Saudi club. Watkins will turn 31 in December, and it would be understandable if he felt Villa’s valuation was excessive for a player of his age. Villa, unsurprisingly, have a different view.
Under Emery, Watkins has grown into one of Europe’s leading strikers. The manager has consistently shown faith in him and was rewarded when Watkins scored 12 goals in 13 matches late in the season, earning a place in England’s World Cup squad.
With two forwards unavailable, Emery badly needed Watkins at Brighton, which helps explain his mood before the match. During his pre-game media duties, he sharply replied ‘Silence!’ when Sky Sports reporter Johnny Phillips asked about the striker’s absence. With Emery, saying less often signals that he is angrier.
He looked a man on the edge at the Amex, where he argued with the fourth official far more than usual, grew irritable with the opposing bench and stalked down the tunnel at full-time without shaking Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler’s hand. Emery and Hurzeler are not best mates, but the reaction was still telling.
What happens next?
A year ago, it looked as though Emi Martinez had played his final game for Villa. Desperate to move to Manchester United or Atletico Madrid, he was left out for a home defeat by Crystal Palace.
Emery looked a man on the edge at the Amex Stadium, where he argued with the fourth official far more than usual and grew irritable with the opposing bench
Watkins struck 12 goals in the final 13 games of last season to force his way into England’s squad for the World Cup, where he scored in the warm-up against Costa Rica
The goalkeeper is still trying to get out, though he knuckled down last season and helped the club win the Europa League. With Watkins, though, that has looked tricky since Sunday.
Whatever the future holds, he has a huge job winning over Villa fans again. The reality is that there were signs last season that Watkins was in decline. A new deal may not have been the best thing for either party.
If Nicolas Jackson comes in, Villa have a striker with potential who can score goals. Emery likes him, having had him at Villarreal. Villa have also made an enquiry to Bayer Leverkusen for 20-year-old striker Christian Kofane. However, at this stage Leverkusen do not wish to sell.
Either way, Villa need Watkins’ future sorted before they meet Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday.
