Emery hints at possible departures from Aston Villa

Unai Emery has said that Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez might be the next players to leave Aston Villa after their Europa League win.

Aston Villa turned down several offers for Watkins from Saudi Pro League team Al Hilal this week. But Emery suggested that the England striker could leave if the price is right.

Ezri Konsa is close to moving to Premier League champions Arsenal. Argentina's goalkeeper Martinez has told Emery that he wants to go.

Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, and Youri Tielemans have already been sold by Villa since last season. They joined Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United respectively.

This is a big change for a team that won Villa's first major trophy in 30 years when they beat Freiburg in the Europa League final in May.

“We have an issue with Watkins, it’s clear. He is another player, we have had offers for him,” Emery told reporters before Villa's Premier League match against Brighton on Sunday.

“He is our player, I don’t want to sell him. It can change because if it is a good option for him, a good option for the club, and I can replace him in the squad.

“This is the routine we have and we did before with the players they are losing. With Ollie, he is here, and he has always been up and down in his performance.

“We will see what happens. If he is leaving it will be for the best three ways. One is him, another is the club, and another is the team.”

Martinez has wanted a new challenge for the last two years. Villa has signed Japan keeper Zion Suzuki as his possible replacement.

“He transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career,” Emery said.

“Not now, even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change and he didn’t do last year, and he performed fantastic with us.

“This year again, he transmitted us the possibility to have another challenge, and we decided to sign Suzuki because I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper in case Martinez is leaving.”

Despite the big changes at Villa Park, Emery said the club, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, has had a good transfer window.

Along with Suzuki, they have signed Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“I’m very excited, I think we have had an intelligent market,” he said. “We know where we are and we know what we want to do again for the next year.

“This is the priority and this is the motivation I have.