Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has acknowledged that key players Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martínez could leave the club, adding further uncertainty to a squad already undergoing significant changes ahead of the new Premier League season.
Emery’s comments come amid growing transfer interest in Watkins, while Martínez has reportedly indicated his desire for a new challenge after several seasons at Villa Park.
According to AFP, carried by Flashscore, Villa have rejected several offers for Watkins from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. However, Emery suggested that the England striker could still depart if an agreement beneficial to the player, the club and the team can be reached.
“We have an issue with Watkins, it’s clear. He is another player; we have had offers for him,” Emery said, stressing that his preference is to retain the forward but acknowledging that circumstances could change.
Watkins has been an important figure in Emery’s Aston Villa project since arriving from Brentford in 2020. Recent reports have linked the 30-year-old with Al Hilal, with FourFourTwo reporting that the striker had agreed personal terms with the Saudi Arabian club. The report, however, noted that a transfer remained dependent on Al Hilal resolving issues surrounding Karim Benzema’s situation.
Martínez also considering a new challenge
Emery also confirmed uncertainty surrounding Martínez, the Argentina international goalkeeper who has become one of Villa’s most prominent players since joining the club.
The Villa manager said Martínez had communicated his desire to explore another opportunity in his career. Emery explained that the goalkeeper had considered leaving previously but remained at the club and continued to perform at a high level.
Villa have already prepared for the possibility of Martínez’s departure by signing Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to Emery.
“He transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge,” Emery said, explaining that the club viewed Suzuki as a potential replacement should Martínez eventually leave.
Aston Villa experiencing major squad changes
The potential departures of Watkins and Martínez would represent another major development in an already dramatic period of change at Villa Park.
Villa have seen several important players leave since the end of last season. Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea in a club-record deal reported at around £117 million, while Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have also departed, according to recent reports. The Guardian has described Villa’s summer as one involving substantial squad restructuring as Emery seeks to maintain competitiveness while reshaping his team.
The changes come after Villa’s successful 2025–26 campaign, during which the club secured the Europa League trophy by defeating Freiburg in the final in May, according to AFP’s report.
Despite the departures and ongoing speculation, Emery has maintained that Villa have conducted an intelligent transfer window. The club have added several players, including Suzuki, João Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as they attempt to build sufficient depth for another demanding campaign.
Watkins decision could have major consequences
For Villa, Watkins’ potential departure would be particularly significant. The forward has been the club’s leading scorer in each of the last six seasons, according to FourFourTwo, and has established himself as one of the most consistent English strikers in the Premier League.
His possible move to Saudi Arabia would therefore leave Emery with a major attacking void to fill, particularly with the club balancing domestic competition and European commitments.
However, Emery’s comments indicate that Villa are not actively seeking to force Watkins out. Instead, the manager’s position appears to be that any transfer must make sense for all parties.
For Martínez, the situation is somewhat different. Emery’s confirmation that the goalkeeper has expressed interest in a fresh challenge suggests that Villa are already planning for the possibility of life without one of their most influential players.
With the Premier League season beginning and the transfer window still open, Aston Villa’s squad could therefore undergo further changes before the deadline.
For supporters, the immediate question is whether Watkins and Martínez will remain central figures in Emery’s plans or become the latest high-profile departures from a team that has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent seasons.
Source
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martínez could leave the club as the Premier League side undergoes a major squad rebuild
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