Ollie Watkins next to leave Aston Villa after John Percy transfer claim - verdict
Ollie Watkins looks set to be the next Aston Villa star to leave after a new update revealed that the club may need to make another big-money sale this summer.
Villa have suffered so far in this transfer window, despite returning to the Champions League for the campaign ahead.
Their Europa League triumph ended a long wait for silverware, but also seemingly signalled the end of an era at Villa Park as several key men move on this summer.
Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers are soon set to join Youri Tielemans in leaving the club, and journalist John Percy has claimed that another star may also be sold before the window ends to comply with financial rules.
In his latest Telegraph article, he wrote: "Villa are determined to resist any more major sales but the simple truth is they may have to accept another departure this summer.
"While Rogers’ sale will go a long way to ensuring compliance for the 2025-26 season, there is still a degree of pressure to conform with the football earnings rule (essentially Uefa’s version of profitability and sustainability rules). That means that another sale could be possible."
There are several candidates who could join the exodus from Emery's squad soon, but several signs point to Watkins being the next player on his way out.
Ollie Watkins ahead of Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez on Villa chopping block
Watkins struggled for form throughout large parts of last season, but ended the season with 21 goals in 55 matches.
He was barely utilised by Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup this summer, and turned 30-years-old midway through last term too.
This summer feels like Villa's final chance to cash in on Watkins, since his current contract is set to expire in 2028 and extension talks are yet to be held.
Fenerbahce have already reportedly registered an interest in his services, and selling him would make sense ahead of the likes of Konsa and Martinez.
Villa's first-choice keeper remains one of the best in the world and has three years left to run on his deal, and it seems unlikely that any club would cough up enough for them to sell him before he turns 34 in September.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Emery will block Konsa leaving this summer as Arsenal reportedly prepare an offer.
He would command the biggest fee of the trio, but Villa likely see him as tougher to replace, while he is two years younger than Watkins too.
Who could replace Watkins at Aston Villa?
Villa are lacking real depth in attack already, so letting Watkins go would likely mean that they need to sign two new centre-forwards before the window closes.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Chelsea have offered Liam Delap to Villa after his tough debut campaign in West London.
Fellow Blues forward Nicolas Jackson is a rumoured target for Villa too, while Al Qadsiah and Mexico striker Julian Quinones is also believed to be on their radar.