After being a high-profile absentee from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, Ollie Watkins enters the most defining month of his career
The England snub: a major blow at the worst time
Thomas Tuchel’s decision to omit Watkins from his 35-man squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan landed as a significant personal setback.
Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were preferred: a verdict that will have stung a striker who memorably scored a dramatic winner against the Netherlands to send England into the Euro 2024 final.
The omission arrives in the context of a difficult domestic season. The 30-year-old has managed ten goals and two assists across all competitions: a notable step down from the 17 goals and 14 assists that made him one of the Premier League’s outstanding performers last campaign.
Villa’s collective attacking struggles have contributed to that decline, but Tuchel’s selection nonetheless sends a clear and uncomfortable message.
Former Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry, however, remains firmly in Watkins’ corner. “He’s missed out on the latest England squad and I hope he’s spoken to Thomas Tuchel because for me he’s ahead of Solanke and Calvert-Lewin in terms of the whole season and being consistent,” Barry stated emphatically.
That endorsement from a man who played in a World Cup while at Villa carries genuine credibility and weight.
AC Milan’s interest: a serious complication for Villa
Simultaneously, SportsBoom report that AC Milan have entered the race to sign Watkins this summer creating a significant and unwelcome complication for Emery’s planning.
The Italian giants are currently second in Serie A behind Inter Milan but have struggled for goals throughout the campaign. No AC Milan player has scored 20 or more goals in a single season since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s remarkable 28-goal return in 2011-12.
Milan’s recruitment team believe a fully motivated Watkins could solve that long-standing problem. They have already invested heavily in attacking reinforcement signing Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku for a combined £90m, but with mixed results.
Consequently, the Villa striker’s proven Premier League goal record makes him an attractive and credible solution to a problem that has persisted across multiple seasons.
| Watkins Career Stats | Detail |
|---|---|
| Villa Signed | 2020 — £28m from Brentford |
| Contract | Until 2028 |
| 2024-25 Goals/Assists | 17 / 14 |
| 2025-26 Goals/Assists | 10 / 2 |
| Previous Valuation | £60m |
| Other Suitors | Newcastle United |
Newcastle United had already been identified as a summer suitor earlier this month. Villa’s valuation, previously reported at £60m, has reportedly dropped given the striker’s current form.
That shift in market perception creates a window of opportunity for interested clubs and AC Milan are understood to be moving decisively to exploit it.
Barry’s message: channel the anger
Despite the obvious concern, Gareth Barry’s assessment offers an optimistic and compelling counter-narrative. The former Villa midfielder believes the England snub could paradoxically prove beneficial, removing pressure and reigniting the competitive fire that defines Watkins at his best.
“I think there’s a bit of pressure. We’re all human and that’ll be in the back of the players’ minds,” Barry acknowledged. “But I’d say for Ollie, the pressure’s come off now. He’s been left out of this squad, he’s got a point to prove, so I think it’ll work for him.”
Furthermore, the GOAL panel’s ideal England World Cup squad (compiled by a panel of football writers) included Watkins despite his omission from the March camp, underlining the broader consensus that his quality remains undeniable.
Villa’s remaining schedule provides the perfect stage for a response. Seven Premier League games, including critical fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Manchester City, alongside the Europa League quarter-final against Bologna represent an extraordinary platform.
Score goals, help Villa win trophies, secure Champions League football and both the World Cup squad and Milan’s interest become secondary considerations entirely.
