Aston Villa fans have expressed their anger after Unai Emery hinted that Ollie Watkins refused to play amid speculation over his future. Watkins, 30, was left out of Villa’s squad for their 4-0 defeat by Brighton on Sunday in their first Premier League game of the season despite the club’s only other forwards, Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham, being out injured.Villa say they have rejected four offers from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for Watkins, the latest of which is thought to be around £34million, a price the Premier League side will not sell at. As far as Villa are concerned, it is understood Watkins is neither ill nor injured. However, he is not thought to have trained fully last week. Daily Mail Sport contacted Watkins’ representative for comment on Sunday. Speaking after the game on Watkins’ position, Emery answered: ‘This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence.’Asked whether Watkins was refusing to play, Emery said: ‘I think you can call him, you can call his agent and he can respond. He can only explain his answer, I can’t. We had two strikers injured and another striker – it’s his answer.’ Aston Villa fans have hit out at Ollie Watkins (pictured with wife Ellie) amid speculation over his future Several fans expressed their anger at Watkins amid reports linking him with a move awayAnd, following those comments, several Villa supporters hit out at Watkins.Commenting on photos of him and his wife Ellie on her Instagram account, one fan said: ‘Ellie please don’t let Ollie leave please.’Another added: ‘Tell Ollie to not leave,’ with a further fan saying: ‘The kids are better in England. Please don’t go.’ On Watkins’ post of his family holiday in the Bahamas, several Villa supporters also commented by posting multiple snake emojis.Another shared: ‘Congrats on selling your soul Ollie,’ before a further supporter said: ‘Respect totally gone.’A further infuriated fan added: ‘Saudi? Why bro?’ Their frustration came after Villa put in one of their worst performances under Emery as a new-look side were torn apart by Brighton, with Joao Gomes sent off on his Premier League debut for the club as the Seagulls went 4-0 up in just over half an hour.Due largely to UEFA financial rules, Villa have sold about £250million worth of talent this summer. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all departed, and Watkins and Emi Martinez (another absentee on Sunday) could follow. Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are said to have had four offers rejected for the English forwardAll six were mainstays of the Villa team who beat Freiburg 3-0 in May to lift the Europa League.Villa have often struggled when the transfer window is open and Emery joked: ‘I think the transfer window should always be closed.‘In the last three years, until the transfer window closes, we have had problems like we are having now. The players have the mentality I want – not complaining, not blaming, and trying to be patient, even with results like today.‘We have had this problem (with the window) every season and we overcame it. But it’s something hard for us every year.’