Flashscore sources: Aston Villa losing Watkins battle, Jackson seen as replacement

[p]Sources close to the situation say [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watkins-ollie/rHnOkDD8/"]Watkins[/a] is very interested in the prospect of moving to Saudi Arabia after Al Hilal made another approach for the England striker.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Villa[/a] have tried to prevent the move and would be willing to offer Watkins a new contract, but Al Hilal are showing persistence. The player's desire to make the move means a transfer is now considered likely to happen, sources told Flashscore.[/b][/p][infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][p]Villa are aware they are facing a losing battle and have therefore accelerated their efforts to find a replacement, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Jackson[/a] emerging as their leading target.[/p][p]A deal worth around £65 million would be required to satisfy [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a]'s demands for the forward. [/p][embed guid="f0d76b1c-6531-4aa8-8949-89415004fa55" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090757479231623617" social-type="twitter" /][p]Jackson is well known to Villa manager Unai Emery, who worked with him during their time together at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a]. The striker has also been coveted by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a] this summer.[/p][p]Villa are unhappy at the prospect of losing Watkins in the same window in which they have already sold [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tielemans-youri/GtkTQyib/"]Youri Tielemans[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konsa-ezri/4CQLQWTa/"]Ezri Konsa[/a].[/p][p][b]However, they are determined not to be left short in attack and are moving quickly to bring Jackson in should Watkins' expected departure materialise.[/b][/p][p]The next few days could therefore see significant movement, with Watkins edging closer to the exit and Jackson potentially arriving as his replacement.[/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]