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Watkins could leave Villa before transfer deadline - Emery

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Ollie Watkins scored 21 goals last season to help Aston Villa win the Europa League [Getty Images]

Striker Ollie Watkins could continue the Aston Villa exodus with boss Unai Emery unable to guarantee he will stay.

The England international is wanted by Saudi club Al-Hilal, with Emery confirming offers have been made.

Ezri Konsa is moving to Arsenal for £51m while Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea for a record £117m, with Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne also leaving this summer.

Emery wants to keep Watkins but admits the 30-year-old could leave Villa Park.

"We have an issue with him, it's clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him," said Emery.

"I don't want to sell him but it can change because if it's a good option for him and the club and I can replace him in the squad, this is the routine we have and we did before with the players who are leaving.

"With Ollie, he is here, for me he is a fantastic striker, we have always believed in him.

"Now he is our player, there are 10 days more or less to finish the transfer window, we will see what happens, I'm happy with him, if he is staying with us he will continue playing his level.

"If he leaving it's because it is good for three ways, one is him, another is the club and another is the team."

Watkins has scored 108 goals for Villa since joining from Brentford for £28m in 2020 and is the club's record Premier League scorer.

If Watkins and goalkeeper Emi Martinez leave, VIlla will have sold six of the starting XI which won the Europa League two months ago.

Martinez's move to Juventus collapsed with the clubs unable to agree a fee while Villa signed Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30m as their new No.1.

The Argentina international will not be in the squad for Sunday's Premier League opener at Brighton because he has only had one training session after returning from a post-World Cup break.

Emery added: "We have two excellent goalkeepers, of course we signed Suzuki not for the future but for now. He showed his capacity to get his performance to our level. He will need to adapt to us but he is playing at this level.

"Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career.

"Even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change for his challenges.

"He didn't do it last year and he performed fantastic with us. This year, again, he transmitted us the possibility to have another challenge and we decided to sign Suzuki because I think he's a fantastic goalkeeper."

Source: Yahoo Sports

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