Al Hilal table official bid for Watkins

Al Hilal are stepping up their pursuit of Ollie Watkins. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Saudi outfit has tabled an official €45 million offer to Aston Villa for the English forward, upping the ante after Birmingham rejected two previous approaches.

The key detail is that Watkins has shown willingness towards the Saudi project and making the switch at this stage of his career, potentially opening the door for talks to progress in the coming weeks. Romano indicates that fresh negotiations between the parties are expected.

As we reported, this is Al Hilal's third attempt to land the Villa striker, with the club reinforcing their interest through a concrete financial proposal after two earlier feelers were turned down. The deal is alive and all signs point to movement ahead.