Watkins exit saga getting ugly as Emery makes ‘commitment’ jab as Al-Hilal progress on Aston Villa raid
Unai Emery has seemingly questioned the “commitment” of Ollie Watkins, amid reports he is closing in on a move to Al-Hilal from Aston Villa.
Watkins was not in the Villa squad to face Brighton on the opening day of the Premier League season. With Brian Madjo also out, the Villans were forced to play midfielder Ross Barkley up top.
It was a woeful start to the season, with the Midlanders losing 4-0.
Before the game, Emery had answered “silence” as to why Watkins wasn’t in the squad, and afterwards, he appeared to question his commitment.
He told Sky Sports: “This question is for him. Can you call him and make a question to him?”
“Ask him. I only can answer it by silence.”
Asked if it’s harder given it’s out of Emery’s hands, the Villa boss said: “The players that are here, they show it, their commitment, and it’s really fantastic. And this is the way.”
“We had it in different moments. In four years we had it maybe five times in different circumstances. But we are going forward, moving always forward.”
Pundits Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards discussed how it seemed Emery was suggesting Watkins is forcing a move away.
“Ollie Watkins shouldn’t want to leave Aston Villa,” Sturridge said.
However, financial regulations were questioned, with the club having their spine ripped out, and Sturridge suggesting that once one or two go, others are bound to follow when it appears a club will be less competitive.
Ollie Watkins nearing Al-Hilal transfer
Our friends at TEAMtalk now report there is confidence at Al-Hilal over landing Watkins. Personal terms are believed to have been agreed some time ago, with the striker also turning down a contract renewal at Villa.
Indeed, it’s said that a deal is now believed to be close, after four bids were turned away by the Villans.
While the final fee is yet to be confirmed, that’s the last piece of the puzzle left to solve, and it appears it won’t be long before that happens.
Once Watkins is sold by Villa, they’re expected to go after Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who the Blues are willing to see the back of, but not for less than £65million.
That’s seemingly why they’ve not already signed him, having been interested throughout the summer. But with money to come in from the sale of Watkins, Villa should find it much easier to finance a deal for Jackson.
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