Villa Launch £40m Bid for Mateta After Watkins Pushes for Saudi Move
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Aston Villa have entered talks with Crystal Palace to sign French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta after England forward Ollie Watkins declared his intention to leave for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Villa suffered a damaging 0-4 opening-day defeat to Brighton, with manager Unai Emery excluding the unsettled Watkins from his matchday squad. The club are prepared to cash in on their leading scorer rather than risk losing him for free next year.
Key Points
- Al-Hilal have submitted a formal offer of £38 million (approximately HK$380 million) for Watkins, who scored 16 Premier League goals last season .
- Emery excluded Watkins from the matchday squad for the Brighton fixture, citing the forward's distracted state amid the transfer saga .
- Mateta, 29, has fallen out with Crystal Palace over a contract dispute after the club unilaterally extended his deal by one year .
- Palace are willing to listen to offers of around £40 million for Mateta, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires in 12 months .
- Villa manager Emery views Mateta's physical presence and clinical finishing as the most practical replacement for Watkins .
Why It Matters
This transfer drama highlights the growing financial pull of the Saudi Pro League, which continues to lure established Premier League talent with lucrative contracts. For Villa, securing a like-for-like replacement before Friday's deadline is critical to salvaging their season after a humiliating opening defeat.
This transfer drama highlights the growing financial pull of the Saudi Pro League, which continues to lure established Premier League talent with lucrative contracts. For Villa, securing a like-for-like replacement before Friday's deadline is critical to salvaging their season after a humiliating opening defeat.