Aston Villa have made overtures to forward Ollie Watkins regarding an extended contract, with the club desperate to retain their star striker during what promises to be one of their most significant campaigns in recent memory.
The Midlands outfit have proposed a lucrative new arrangement that would bind Watkins to Villa Park until 2030, attempting to ward off considerable interest from rival suitors during the current transfer window.
Several clubs have expressed interest in acquiring the centre-forward, who is 30 years old and still has two years left on his existing contractual terms.
Al-Hilal, however, have emerged as the most eager party, with the Saudi Pro League franchise making three separate approaches for the England international throughout the summer, the latest of which amounted to £38million and was turned down by Villa.
With the 2025/26 season representing a pivotal moment for the club, executives at Villa Park have now put forward an extended deal lasting an additional four years. While Watkins has not yet committed his future to the club, it is evident that Aston Villa are pulling out all the stops to convince him to stay in the Midlands for the upcoming campaign.
A central figure in Unai Emery’s highly impressive season, Watkins found the net 16 times across 37 Premier League fixtures as Villa secured a fourth-placed finish in the English top division.
He also played a crucial role in their Europa League triumph, contributing five goals and two assists from 15 appearances during the competition.
Given the quality Aston Villa possess in their squad, the club is keen to ensure their leading scorer remains committed for at least the foreseeable future.
Following their European success, Villa will now set their sights on Champions League progression over the coming months, and they will require a reliable goal scorer if they harbour any ambitions of challenging for the prestigious trophy.
This comes amid a summer exodus of several important players from the club.
Midfielder Morgan Rogers departed for Chelsea in a deal worth £117million partway through the transfer window, while Youri Tielemans moved to Manchester United.
Full-back Lucas Digne has completed a permanent switch back to Paris Saint-Germain, and forward Donyell Malen has signed for Roma after spending time on loan at the Italian club.
Defender Ezri Konsa appears close to joining Arsenal in a £51million transfer, with Villa currently working to identify a replacement for the 28-year-old centre-back.