Al-Hilal Opens the Checkbook: €45 Million for Watkins
The Saudis are simultaneously negotiating with Harry Kane, but the first concrete offer has arrived at Aston Villa for English international Ollie Watkins.
The Saudis are simultaneously negotiating with Harry Kane, but the first concrete offer has arrived at Aston Villa for English international Ollie Watkins.
Saudi club Al-Hilal has sent a third offer to Aston Villa for English striker Ollie Watkins, this time amounting to €45 million including add-ons, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on his X platform profile. According to his information, the Birmingham club has rejected the previous two bids from the Saudi powerhouse.
Watkins (30) is reportedly keen on a move to Al-Hilal this summer, but the final decision rests with Aston Villa. Romano notes that the striker will have to wait for the English club's approval before anything is finalized. Al-Hilal is simultaneously looking for a replacement for French striker Karim Benzema, whom they plan to sell this summer.
Watkins was one of the Premier League's top strikers last season. He made 55 appearances for Aston Villa, scoring 21 goals and providing 5 assists. At the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, he appeared as a substitute in two matches, without a goal or assist.
Watkins is the second English striker Al-Hilal has been pursuing this transfer window. According to Stijena.info, representatives of Harry Kane have held talks with the Saudi club's officials about a potential future deal. The Bayern striker is reportedly not ruling out a change of scenery, although there is no confirmation that an official offer has been sent to the German champions.
Sources disagree on the status of Watkins' transfer. While Stijena.info reports that Watkins has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal but Aston Villa has yet to receive an official bid, Goal.com relays Romano's claim that the €45 million offer has already been submitted and is the third one.
Newcastle has opened initial talks with Manchester City over Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez, while Sunderland's attempt to sign French defender Dayanne Methalie from Toulouse for £25.7 million is hanging in the balance due to medical concerns. Inter is monitoring Liverpool's Curtis Jones with a €35 million bid, and Tottenham is looking for a defender following Cristian Romero's departure to Atlético Madrid.
Real Sociedad has made inquiries about West Ham's Edson Álvarez, while Ajax has cooled their interest. Ipswich has been turned down in their pursuit of Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen, Coventry's bid for Ruben Loftus-Cheek has failed, and Wolves have joined the race for Amario Cozier-Duberry. Málaga is interested in free agent Ryan Kent.
