Aston Villa boss Unai Emery refused to be drawn on Ollie Watkins’ future after his absence for our defeat at Brighton on Sunday.
The 30-year-old wasn’t part of the squad that travelled for our Premier League season opener, amid ongoing speculation over a potential move to Al Hilal ahead of the transfer window deadline.
With no other options to play up front, Emery was forced to go with Emiliano Buendia and Ross Barkley playing in advanced roles, and unsurprisingly it didn’t work as we fell to a heavy loss in a bitterly disappointing start to the campaign.
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The Villa boss was asked about Watkins prior to the game and after in his post-match interviews, and while he didn’t confirm the specific reason for his absence, it has become pretty clear that the Villa forward is pushing for a move away and seemingly will not feature for us again until his touted move to Saudi Arabia goes through.
“This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence,” Emery said, as per Sky Sports.
“I think you call his agent and he can respond. He can only explain his answer, I can’t.
“In the last three years, until the transfer window finishes, we have had problems like we are having now. The players here today are keeping the mentality I want for the team. Not complaining or blaming, even with a tough result today.”
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that Watkins has already agreed personal terms with Al Hilal and so it ultimately still comes down to whether or not the two clubs are able to reach an agreement on a transfer fee.
Thus far, Villa’s valuation appears to have not been met, but given the circumstances and how the situation has played out, the ideal outcome now is to agree on a deal and sanction an exit for Watkins so we can move as quickly as possible to sign his replacement ahead of the deadline, albeit while still holding out for what we believe is his market value.
Given how important he has been for us over the past six years and how much he has contributed, it’s a sad and very disappointing way for it to end, as it certainly feels like a lack of respect towards the club in not making himself available until the move goes through, and particularly a lack of respect to Emery who has been so instrumental in his improvement since he arrived at Villa.