'Ask him' - Unai Emery gives cryptic response over Ollie Watkins' Aston Villa absence amid Al Hilal transfer links

Watkins was surprisingly left out of the Aston Villa squad that suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away at Brighton on Sunday. According to Sky Sports, the striker is currently the subject of intense transfer interest from Al Hilal, who have already seen at least one bid rejected by the Premier League club.

While Aston Villa do not want to sell their talisman, Watkins is reportedly very keen on securing a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. The forward only returned from his extended post-World Cup summer break in the week leading up to the game, raising immediate questions about his sudden omission.

When pressed by reporters to explain whether the absence of Watkins was due to physical reasons or the ongoing transfer negotiations, Emery offered a notably cryptic response. Following a long pause during his pre-match interview, Emery simply said: "Silence".

The manager maintained this stance following the heavy loss. When a reporter asked him to clarify why Watkins was not in the squad, Emery stated: "This question is for him. Can you call him and make a question to him?" When asked if it was the player's decision, Emery added: "Ask him. I only can answer it by silence."

Despite the frustrating result and having Joao Gomes sent off in the first half, Emery chose to praise the players who did take to the pitch at the Amex Stadium.

When asked if the situation surrounding Watkins makes things challenging when it is not in his control, Emery responded: "The players that are here, they showed it, their commitment and it's really fantastic and this is the way. Of course losing, but this is the way." Aston Villa have frequently relied on Watkins for goals, but Emery is clearly demanding absolute dedication from the squad members who are currently available for selection.

Aston Villa have 10 days left in the transfer window to find solutions, either by reintegrating Watkins or securing a replacement if a deal with Al Hilal is eventually struck. Emery must quickly shift his focus to analysing the opening day defeat and preparing his squad for their next Premier League fixture, aiming to bounce back immediately from the disappointing setback.