Aston Villa‘s Ollie Watkins is keen on a move to Al-Hilal and has given his approval to join them this summer. 

He has been their first-choice striker under Unai Emery and has regularly impressed in recent years.

Last season, Watkins scored 21 goals and contributed five assists from 55 matches for Aston Villa.

Aston Villa player’s OK for exit 

Ollie Watkins

The England international has two years left on his contract but has decided to leave Villa Park this summer.

That’s according to journalist Gianluigi Longari, he took to X, to report Al-Hilal’s dream striker target is Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen. A move seems unlikely and the Middle East club are focusing on Ollie Watkins.

Longari adds he has given the green light to Al-Hilal, who are in talks with Aston Villa. Sacha Tavolieri backs it up in his column for Sky Sport CH and shares more updates.

Simone Inzaghi wants Karim Benzema to leave, and Al-Hilal are working on getting rid of him, which remains complicated. The club has to reach an agreement with the league and relevant authorities to terminate the Frenchman’s contract.

Benzema is open to leaving and is requesting the full salary for his final year of contract.

Benzema case key for Aston Villa negotiations

Faced with the possibility of losing the former Real Madrid star, the Saudi club are looking at strikers.

This is where Ollie Watkins comes into the picture, and he has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal.

However, Simone Inzaghi’s side can’t make concrete advances with the Europa League winners without getting rid of Karim Benzema.

Sacha Tavolieri states: ‘The club’s management therefore wants to first release Benzema and reach an agreement with the various parties involved in his contract before officially launching their offensive for their future number 9.’ 

Over the past few summers, there were claims of the possibility of Watkins leaving Aston Villa. Last summer, the Villans had identified a replacement but didn’t go ahead as the frontman continued at the club.

Whether that will repeat again this summer or the 30-year-old secure a move away from the English club remains to be seen.

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