Last season, The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell praised Douglas Luiz as “one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders,” citing his key role in Aston Villa’s top-four finish.
Luiz has been with Villa Park for five years, joining from Manchester City for a £15 million price in 2019. He has made 204 appearances, scored 22 goals, and assisted 24 more.
Villa, led by Unai Emery, have risen to the top of European competition, becoming a member of the elite group.
Emery combined skill, determination, and tactical acumen to construct this system of such flow and fervour, with Luiz at the forefront.Last season, each player scored ten goals and assisted ten times. The general in the middle, the pacesetter and mood creator.
Unfortunately, he’s on his way out. The need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (PSR) standards has driven him to Turin, where Juventus has signed the Brazil international and allowed talented duo Enzo Barrenechea (deep midfielder) and Samuel Iling-Junior (young English winger) to join Villa Park.
Luiz, who was valued at €50 million (£42 million), is leaving Villa. However, another Lions player is worth much more than the 26-year-old.
What Aston Villa Paid for Ollie Watkins
Dean Smith’s Aston Villa had barely survived their return to England’s top division in the summer of 2020 and aimed to improve significantly, pushing upwards.
In 2019, Villa signed Wesley Moraes for £22 million, although he only scored five goals in 21 matches before tearing his ACL. They then signed Brentford’s Ollie Watkins, who had just scored 26 goals in the Championship.
Watkins joined Villa Park from the Bees in a club-record transfer worth up to £33 million. He has been a constant goal threat for the club, but his impact extends beyond his shooting ability.
| Aston Villa: Top Scorer by Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Player | Apps | Goals |
| 23/24 | Ollie Watkins | 53 | 27 |
| 22/23 | Ollie Watkins | 40 | 16 |
| 21/22 | Ollie Watkins | 36 | 11 |
| 20/21 | Ollie Watkins | 40 | 16 |
| 19/20 | Jack Grealish | 41 | 10 |
| 18/19 | Tammy Abraham | 42 | 26 |
| Stats via Transfermarkt | |||
He hasn’t done too badly since going to the Midlands, has he? In fact, Watkins has won the club’s top goalscorer award in all four seasons since leaving Brentford.
Watkins has had four outstanding seasons, but the most recent is without a doubt his best, as he has truly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top performers.
Ollie Watkins’ 23/24 season numbers
Last season, Watkins flourished as the focal point of Emery’s system, with his exploits in claret proving crucial to Champions League qualification.
In 53 appearances in all competitions, the 28-year-old scored 27 goals and assisted 13 times in the Premier League.
According to FBref, he ranks only in the top 20% of centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored over the last year, and in the top 29% for shots taken per 90 minutes, indicating his prolific quality.
Furthermore, he ranks among the top 3% in terms of assists per 90 minutes, with Leicester City’s Conor Coady describing him as a “nightmare to play against” because to his dynamism and multi-faceted armament.
There is always some danger when paying £33 million for a player who has never played in the Premier League, but Smith and Co spotted something special in the versatile Englishman and made the move. It has proven to be extremely beneficial to the club’s growth.
Especially given his astonishing market valuation, which is £33 million higher than Luiz, who is also one of the most promising members of the Aston Villa squad – for the next few days at least.
Ollie Watkins’ market value.
Watkins signed a new deal in October 2023, extending his stay at Villa Park until the conclusion of 2027/28 season. While some high-profile suitors have been sniffing around recently, luring him away from Emery’s project would cost a fair penny.
Watkins is one of the most marketable and costly players in the Aston Villa club, having just signed a rich £130k-per-week contract.
According to Football Transfers, he is the most valuable player in the Villan roster. GIVEMESPORT confirmed this during the 2023/24 season, stating that the Arsenal-linked striker can only depart for £75 million or more.
This approach is unlikely to alter, as Watkins is anticipated to guide the club into a new era among Europe’s elite. The security of Champions League football has made it difficult to persuade Emery to sell. And he will not.
While he cost a hefty lot four years ago, this £75 million price tag indicates his value has increased by a staggering 127%, despite the fact that he was formerly Villa’s club-record signing.
Villa have won the jackpot with Watkins. While it would be absurd to cash in on their star player this season despite remaining concerns about PSR, the fact that the idea of a sale never surfaced at Villa Park demonstrates that Emery’s attitude is clear.
And rightfully so. He may be head and shoulders above other high-profile Villans like Luiz, but he is the best of the crop and must be allowed to lead the team in the Champions League, which begins in just a few months.
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