Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins’ exclusion from the 4‑0 Premier League defeat at Brighton was a question for the striker. The 30‑year‑old was left out of the matchday squad after Emery confirmed earlier that week that Saudi club Al‑Hilal had made an offer for him.

Watkins’ exclusion and Al‑Hilal offer

Emery told Match of the Day that the decision to leave Watkins out was “a question for him.” He added that the players wanted to play and that the squad had two strikers with minor injuries. Villa captain John McGinn echoed the sentiment, calling Watkins an “amazing player” and a record goalscorer, and said his role was to get the best from the players present.

Villa’s squad upheaval

The 4‑0 loss to Brighton was Villa’s Premier League opener, and the club is already in the process of selling many of its European heroes. After lifting the Europa League in May against Freiburg, Villa could have sold six of the starting XI from that night by the end of the window. Recent departures include Ezri Konsa to Arsenal, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers (the latter’s £117 m move to Chelsea), Lucas Digne to Paris St‑Germain, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who was omitted from the squad after a failed move to Juventus. Villa has signed Zion Suzuki as a replacement.

If both Martinez and Watkins leave, only Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, John McGinn and Emi Buendía would remain from the eleven that started in Istanbul.

Financial backdrop and future prospects

Villa’s transfer activity is driven by UEFA’s squad cost ratio and the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. The club has faced fines of £9.5 m and £19.4 m for breaches, and has raised over £200 m from sales of Jhon Duran (£71 m), Douglas Luiz (£42.5 m), Jacob Ramsey (£40 m) and Moussa Diaby (£50 m). Despite the churn, Villa’s Europa League win and Champions League run have brought in around £70 m, helping the club turn a profit in its latest accounts.

Emery has overseen a transformation since taking over when Villa were 14th. With the club’s structure intact and a new focus on younger talent, the manager remains the key asset as Villa navigates a period of significant player turnover.