Ollie Watkins returned to Aston Villa training and apologised to his team-mates on Monday after missing Sunday's match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Multiple sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Watkins returned to training on Monday and apologised to team-mates, having missed Villa's 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
The Athletic revealed Watkins had not been training with the squad prior to the opening day fixture after making clear his desire to leave. This came after Villa rejected a fourth offer from Al Hilal, worth £45million, for the forward.
Following the match against Brighton, manager Unai Emery refused to confirm whether Ollie Watkins asked not to play against Brighton.
"This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence," said Emery, who was then asked if Watkins refused to play, to which he replied: "I think you call his agent and he can respond. He can only explain his answer, I can't.
"In the last three years, until the transfer window finishes, we have had problems like we are having now. The players here today are keeping the mentality I want for the team. Not complaining or blaming, even with a tough result today."
Villa have outlined their wish to keep Watkins by offering him new terms until 2030, yet his future remains uncertain.
Despite viewing Watkins as a player who can be the bridge between Emery eras, given the amount of change which has taken place this summer, the club are making contingency plans should Watkins end up departing, with Nicolas Jackson a leading target. Other options include AC Milan's Rafael Leao, who Villa have registered an interest in but no club-to-club offer has been made yet, and Crystal Palace's Jean Philippe Mateta.
The Athletic approached Villa and Watkins' representatives for comment.
Source: www.nytimes.com — Read the original article
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