Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins apologises after missing defeat to Brighton
Ollie Watkins has apologised to his Aston Villa team-mates after missing their humiliating opening-day defeat at Brighton, but the England striker is still expected to join Al Hilal before the transfer window shuts next Tuesday, reports BritPanorama.
Watkins returned to Villa’s training ground on Monday following his absence from the squad that suffered a crushing 4-0 loss at the Amex Stadium. The forward addressed his team-mates and expressed regret for being unavailable as Unai Emery’s side began their Premier League campaign in disastrous fashion.
Despite his return, expectations surrounding his future remain unchanged. Watkins is reportedly keen to complete a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia this summer. Villa have rejected several offers from Al Hilal as they attempt to protect their valuation of one of Emery’s most important players.
Emery had fuelled speculation over the striker’s situation with two pointed responses after Sunday’s defeat. When asked why Watkins had not featured against Brighton, the Villa manager replied, “This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence.” He added, “I think you can call him, you can call his agent and he can respond,” when pressed on whether Watkins had refused to play.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding Watkins, Villa are assessing possible attacking reinforcements and have contacted AC Milan about a potential move for Rafael Leao. Strengthening in attack has become a priority following Morgan Rogers’ move to Chelsea, which saw the latter score on his Premier League debut during a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham.
The loss of Watkins in the same transfer window would create another significant void in Emery’s squad, intensifying the pressure on Villa’s recruitment team to secure a replacement. Currently, club officials are exploring the financial demands involved in signing Leao, whose future at San Siro remains uncertain amid interest from both Turkish teams and several Champions League clubs.
While Villa continue their pursuit of additional players to reshape their squad, Watkins is back among his team-mates, attempting to repair relations after his controversial absence. However, with Al Hilal still pursuing the striker and the player seemingly keen to move, anticipation builds as the transfer deadline approaches.
This situation is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in football, especially at clubs navigating the dual pressures of performance and personnel decisions. As Villa finds itself at a crossroads, the coming days will determine not just individual trajectories but the collective future of a club still reeling from a dismal start to the season.
