Al-Hilal agree £50m deal with Aston Villa for striker Ollie Watkins
Saudi side Al-Hilal have reached an agreement worth around £50m with Aston Villa for England forward Ollie Watkins, aged 30. Chelsea are considering Bournemouth's Alex Scott as a replacement if Enzo Fernández leaves, while Sunderland have made a loan offer for Manchester City's Jack Grealish.
ByNatilla5 min read
Saudi club Al-Hilal are closing in on the signing of England striker Ollie Watkins after striking a deal with Aston Villa worth approximately £50m. The move, reported by Fabrizio Romano, marks another statement addition for the Riyadh-based side and leaves Villa facing the task of replacing one of their most consistent attacking players.
- Al-Hilal and Aston Villa have agreed a fee of about £50m for 30-year-old Ollie Watkins.
- Chelsea view Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as a possible replacement for Enzo Fernández.
- Sunderland have submitted a loan offer to Manchester City for winger Jack Grealish.
- Aston Villa have also asked about West Ham centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
Al-Hilal move towards Ollie Watkins signing from Aston Villa
Watkins' likely switch to Saudi Arabia would bring an end to a productive spell at Aston Villa, where he has been a central figure in attack for several seasons. At 30, the England international would join a project that continues to recruit proven Premier League talent as Al-Hilal chase domestic dominance and progress on the continental stage.
For Aston Villa, the sale provides a significant financial boost but also leaves a clear gap up front. The Birmingham club are already exploring options to strengthen the squad before the window closes and have made an enquiry about West Ham's French defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
Chelsea target Bournemouth's Alex Scott if Enzo Fernández leaves
Chelsea have identified Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, 23, as their preferred candidate to step in should Enzo Fernández depart. The Argentina international, 25, has been linked with Manchester City, prompting Chelsea to prepare a contingency plan.
Scott fits the profile of young English talent Chelsea have targeted in recent transfer windows, offering energy and technical ability in the middle of the pitch. The London club are also closing in on a £36m move for Atalanta's 18-year-old defender Honest Ahanor.
Sunderland make loan approach for Jack Grealish
Sunderland have made an offer to Manchester City to take Jack Grealish on loan until the end of the season. The 30-year-old England winger has struggled for regular minutes under Pep Guardiola, and a temporary move could offer him the game time he needs.
Rafael Leao nears AC Milan exit amid Aston Villa interest
Portugal winger Rafael Leao appears close to leaving AC Milan, with Galatasaray reportedly set to pay around £38m for the 27-year-old. Aston Villa had been monitoring Leao as a potential attacking addition, but the Turkish club now look best placed to complete the deal.
Other transfer market moves: Ipswich, Everton and Nottingham Forest
Elsewhere in the market, Ipswich Town are pushing to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios in a deal worth about £23.5m. The Argentine would add experience and quality to a squad fighting for Premier League survival.
Everton are working on a deal for Guinea-Bissau forward Franculino, 22, from Midtjylland, while also preparing to sell Republic of Ireland defender Jake O'Brien. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have had an initial £6m bid for Fiorentina right-back Dodo turned down.
Al-Hilal have agreed a deal of about £50m with Aston Villa to sign England forward Ollie Watkins, 30.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Al-Hilal pay for Ollie Watkins?
Al-Hilal have reached an agreement with Aston Villa worth around £50m for the 30-year-old England forward. The deal moves Watkins closer to leaving the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League.
Who do Chelsea want if Enzo Fernández leaves?
Chelsea have lined up Bournemouth's 23-year-old English midfielder Alex Scott as a potential replacement. The move would depend on Enzo Fernández completing a transfer away from Stamford Bridge.
Are Sunderland trying to sign Jack Grealish?
Sunderland have offered Manchester City a loan deal for Jack Grealish, the 30-year-old England winger who has found regular starts hard to come by. The proposal is for a temporary move until the end of the season.