Aston Villa rejected Fenerbahçe’s efforts to sign Ollie Watkins before his summer move to Al-Hilal, according to the Turkish club’s president Aziz Yıldırım.
Speaking at Fenerbahçe’s general meeting on Sunday, Yıldırım said representatives travelled to England for discussions with Villa, the striker and his agent.
His account, published by Turkish broadcaster A Spor, suggests both club and player resisted the proposed transfer.
Watkins eventually departed for Saudi Arabia after a Villa career assessed in our look at his 108-goal legacy.
Ollie Watkins Fenerbahçe talks met resistance
Yıldırım said the pursuit lasted between a month and six weeks.
In comments translated from Turkish, he said: “The player says, ‘I won’t come to Turkey’, and the club says, ‘We won’t sell him’.”
He claimed Fenerbahçe were prepared to meet Villa’s demands, but the discussions failed to produce a deal.
The president did not disclose a specific formal bid. His account also does not establish why Villa subsequently agreed to sell Watkins to Al-Hilal.
It adds detail to an unsuccessful summer pursuit, rather than indicating renewed negotiations.
Villa face Fenerbahçe next month
There is an immediate competitive connection between the clubs.
UEFA’s fixture schedule confirms Fenerbahçe visit Villa Park on 14 October for Villa’s first home Champions League match of the season.
They will arrive having missed out on the striker who left Emery’s side during its summer rebuild.
