Watkins transfer saga has turned ugly - but loyalty is a two-way street

The transfer window can be a particularly bruising time for players, egos and reputations. And there is unlikely to be too much sympathy from Aston Villa fans for Ollie Watkins after Unai Emery ’s post-match comments.

Villa lose 4-0 at Brighton, the club has been left in a bit of a mess (again) by a messy transfer window which has seen big-name departures like Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers with Emiliano Martinez likely to follow.

So, the Watkins story - a live transfer target for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal - certainly meant people are talking about the Villa striker rather than a humiliating defeat. A distraction tactic?

It has made Watkins the villain of the piece with Emery hinting heavily - but not quite saying it out right - that the England striker refused to play at Brighton.

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Watkins, 30, is being offered a huge contract in the Saudi Pro League, it would be a fantastic pay day for a player who has reached the very top in his career having really battled his way up from non-league. This is a really nice, understated but determined player who does not really seek the spotlight but there have been ups and downs at Villa.

It has largely always been up when he is on the pitch because he works hard, scores goals and gives his all for the team. He has enjoyed success with the Europa League and helping the club qualify for the Champions League.

The downs have been when he has been dropped, he has been left out on numerous occasions and when players are axed from the team no-one stands up for them.

It’s just when the suggestion comes they don’t want to play for the team. Emery is such a good manager and one of the reasons is because he’s a bad loser. He’s so determined to win. As the saying goes, show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser. Emery is a winner.

After the Brighton game, you could see he was fuming, Watkins was caught in the crossfire and is now public enemy No.1. It was Villa who denied Watkins a move to Arsenal in January 2025 when the Midlands club did need to sell. Arsenal will always say that it was Villa who first sounded them out. Villa eventually sold Jhon Duran to balance the books.

Watkins was priced out of a move but, like all players, is a commodity who is owned by his club - until they don’t want him. Then he’s just discarded. Villa have sold so many players this summer that it must have created some uncertainty. If you look at what happened last season - they did not win any of their first five Premier League games and scored just one goal - this transfer carousel is not new.

They have been prolific buyers and sellers. And so is Watkins so wrong? There is no way a player should go on strike to force a move when they are paid so well in the first place.

But is it always that black and white? You can be sure players up and down the country will be talking with their clubs, agents and managers about what the future holds.

Many players will feel as if they need to move on. This is not the era of player power. But we have seen a shift of more clubs openly courting transfer targets - even if they are under contract.

Every club does it and if that turns the odd head - especially when a move would be for life-changing money - then they probably are not in the right frame of mind to play.

But equally, the player will probably recall the last time they were dropped and ask their own questions about loyalty. It must be a two-way street. Clearly, Villa fans might not agree right now. But this saga has probably happened at every club this summer - but not so publicly.

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