Aston Villa Eye Nicolas Jackson as Watkins Replacement

Aston Villa are lining up Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as a potential replacement if Ollie Watkins is prised away by Al Hilal.

Chelsea value Jackson at around £65m and are pushing for a permanent sale after his season-long loan at Bayern Munich. Atletico Madrid are also in the frame, but the Spanish side favour a loan move, a stance that leaves Chelsea looking elsewhere for a firm buyer.

Villa’s interest is conditional. Watkins has to go first.

Al Hilal turn up the heat for Watkins

Al Hilal remain locked in talks for the England striker and have already seen at least one bid knocked back, with their opening offer understood to be in the region of £38.5m. Watkins is keen on a move to Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Pro League club view him as a leading candidate to replace Karim Benzema, whose contract situation they are working to resolve.

Villa’s stance is clear: they do not want to sell. Watkins is coming off a season in which he scored 16 Premier League goals, helped Villa win the Europa League and secure another year of Champions League football, and earned a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. Losing that level of output, and that status in the dressing room, would be a seismic moment.

Yet the pressure is building.

Emery: ‘We have an issue with him’

Unai Emery did not hide from the situation when he faced the media ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brighton.

"We have an issue with him, it is clear," the Villa manager said. "We had offers for him but he is our player. I don't want to sell him but it can change if it is a good option for him, the club and I can replace him in the squad.

"He is here and is a fantastic striker. We have always believed and supported him, he did it.

"There is 10 days to finish the transfer window, we will see. He is our player and I am happy with him."

Asked whether Watkins had formally requested to leave, Emery replied: "I don't know, maybe you have more information than us! Football is changing.

The players are professional and Watkins is our player."

Watkins, now 30, sits at the heart of a tug of war: Villa clinging to a proven goalscorer; Al Hilal pushing hard for a marquee centre-forward; the player open to a late-career move that could redefine his earnings and his environment.

Chelsea and Villa’s growing transfer axis

If Al Hilal finally hit the number that forces Villa to the table, Jackson is expected to be high on their list of replacements. The 23-year-old has a key ally in Birmingham: Emery knows him well from their time together at Villarreal and believes he fits his aggressive, front-foot style.

The two clubs have already been busy trading this summer. Chelsea and Villa enjoy what are described as very good relations at boardroom level, and that relationship has underpinned major deals, including the record-breaking move for Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho’s switch to claret and blue.

Those channels are open. The groundwork is laid. All that is missing is the trigger – a decisive move for Watkins.

Martinez pushes for ‘another challenge’

While Watkins dominates the headlines, another pillar of Emery’s side is also edging towards the exit.

Emiliano Martinez has told the club he wants to leave and pursue "another challenge" in his career. Villa moved early in the window to sign Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma, a deal Emery insists was made for the present, not as a long-term stash.

"We have two excellent keepers," Emery said. "We have signed Suzuki not for the future, but for now. He has shown his capacity and that he can play at our level.

"Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not just now and even last year, and he was thinking in case he had a possibility to change his challenges, but he stayed and performed fantastic.

"This year, again, he transmitted to us for a new challenge, and we signed Suzuki to replace him. But the scenario we have is that we have two great goalkeepers. We will see what will happen."

A move to Juventus collapsed earlier in the summer, leaving Martinez still at Villa Park for the time being, but the direction of travel is obvious. Emery is braced for change.

A pivotal 10 days for Villa

Villa walk into the final stretch of the window with their Europa League trophy in the cabinet, Champions League football on the horizon, and two of their most influential players weighing up their futures.

If Al Hilal finally land Watkins, Villa’s next move for Jackson could define how bold their ambitions really are this season.