Al Hilal Pursue Ollie Watkins as Benzema Replacement

Al Hilal have opened talks with Aston Villa over a move for striker Ollie Watkins, as the Saudi club line up a high-profile replacement for Karim Benzema.

One bid has already been rejected, but the conversation has not ended there. Negotiations are ongoing as Al Hilal search for a formula that will tempt Villa without ripping out the heart of Unai Emery’s attack.

Al Hilal line up Watkins as Benzema successor

Watkins sits at the top of Al Hilal’s list as they prepare for life after Benzema. The club are working on a way to resolve the French forward’s contract and pave the way for his exit, only months after he arrived in Riyadh.

Benzema joined Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February on an 18‑month deal and made an immediate impact, scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances in his first half-season. Yet his future is already clouded by uncertainty, and Al Hilal have moved quickly to identify the man they want to lead their line next.

That man is coming off the best season of his career.

Watkins hit 16 league goals for Aston Villa last term, driving the club to Europa League glory and securing another year of Champions League football. His form was rewarded on the international stage too, with a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad underlining his rise into the elite bracket of Premier League forwards.

Since arriving from Brentford in 2020, the 30‑year‑old has grown into Villa’s attacking reference point, passing the 100‑goal mark for the club and becoming central to Emery’s high‑energy, front-foot style. Losing him now, with the season about to start and Champions League nights on the horizon, would be a brutal blow.

Villa have already shown their stance by knocking back Al Hilal’s first offer. How hard they hold the line as the Saudi club push again will define the rest of their summer.

Villa’s summer storm

The pursuit of Watkins drops into a turbulent period at Villa Park.

The mood around the club had already darkened after the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, stripping depth and experience from a squad that must juggle domestic demands with Europe’s biggest stage.

A bright display against Paris Saint‑Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final briefly cut through the clouds. New signing Joao Gomes and 17‑year‑old Brian Madjo caught the eye in pre-season and shone again against PSG, even in defeat, hinting at a fresh layer of energy and fearlessness in Emery’s side.

Then came another setback. Reports of injuries to both Gomes and Madjo landed just as Villa edge towards their Premier League opener against Brighton. The pair now join Amadou Onana and new arrival Johan Manzambi on the treatment table, stretching Emery’s options before a ball has even been kicked in anger.

So Villa face a stark dilemma. Hold firm and keep their talisman in Watkins, or entertain a huge offer from Al Hilal and try to rebuild on the fly while injuries pile up.

For Al Hilal, this is about seizing a moment and securing a proven Premier League finisher to replace a global star whose time in Riyadh already feels fleeting. For Villa, it is about drawing a line in the sand.

The next move in these negotiations will say plenty about both clubs’ ambitions for the season ahead.