Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits Ollie Watkins could be the next big-name player to leave the club this summer, while also revealing Emiliano Martínez has asked to move.
Villa have rejected four bids for Watkins from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal this week, but Emery did not deny that the England striker could follow Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans out of Villa Park.
Ezri Konsa’s move to Arsenal was confirmed on Friday afternoon and Emery said there is an “issue” with Watkins and that he could go if the price was right.
“We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is another player, we have had offers for him,” he said ahead of Villa’s Premier League opener at Brighton on Sunday.
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“He is our player, I don’t want to sell him. It can change because if it is a good option for him, good option for the club and I can replace him in the squad.
“This is the routine we have and we did before with the players they are losing. With Ollie, he is here, and he has always been up and down in his performance.
“He is a fantastic striker, we always believe in him and we supported him and he did it. Now he is our player and there is 10 days more or less to finish the transfer window.
“We will see what happens. He is our player, I am happy with him and in case he stays with us, he is going to continue playing his level. If he is leaving it will be for the best three ways. One is him, another is the club and another is the team.”
Argentina goalkeeper Martínez has been keen on a fresh challenge for the last two summers, with Villa signing Zion Suzuki as a potential replacement.
“He transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career,” Emery added. “Not now, even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change and he didn’t do 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 in case Martínez is leaving.”
Despite the raft of key players on their way out, Emery insists Villa have had an “intelligent market.”
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In addition to Suzuki, they have signed Johan Manzambi, João Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“I’m very excited, I think we have had an intelligent market,” he said. “We know where we are and we know what we want to do again for the next year.
“This is the priority and this is the motivation I have.”
