Ollie Watkins’ absence from the Aston Villa team for the opening-day thrashing at Brighton is the latest chapter in a story that started 18 months ago.Manager Unai Emery was so enraged by his star striker’s omission from the matchday squad on the south coast amid rumours of a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal that he could only reply ‘silence’ when asked what had caused it, adding: ‘I think you can call him, call his agent and he can respond.’ The England forward spoke to his team-mates on Monday to explain his side of the story and was expected to return to some training this week. The stance remains the same: Villa are willing to sell Watkins to the Saudis, but only if their current valuation of at least £50million is matched.That may shift in the days ahead, with Villa seeking reinforcements in defence, out wide and at centre-forward. Though this row might have been handled differently by both sides, it has not come from a clear blue sky.Daily Mail Sport looks at how we got here and what might happen next.Where it all beganAt some point last week, Watkins had a discussion with Unai Emery. The Villa boss left those talks believing Watkins wanted to move to Al Hilal and was prepared to go to significant lengths to ensure the deal went through. Unai Emery was in no mood to protect Ollie Watkins when his star striker was not available for the opening day at Brighton Al Hilal, whose squad includes former Wolves captain Ruben Neves (furthest right) and Chelsea centre back Kalidou Koulibaly (second right) need to match Villa’s £50m valuationWatkins did not train last week as he waited for Villa to accept a bid. Al Hilal did not make the required offer and once he understood Watkins would not be involved in the preparation work, Emery did not consider him for last Sunday’s match at Brighton.Without the injured Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo, strikerless Villa were hammered 4-0 and Emery did nothing in his media appearances to protect Watkins. Sure enough, the 30-year-old was targeted mercilessly by supporters online.To understand why this happened, we must rewind to a sliding doors moment for Villa and Watkins – Boxing Day 2024. In the previous three league games, Emery had decided to pick Jhon Duran, the chaotic but brilliant Colombian, ahead of Watkins, and Duran had scored in all three.Heading into the next match at Newcastle, it looked as though Duran had become Villa’s undisputed No1 striker and the club started to make contingency plans for January. They knew Arsenal were chasing a forward and had an interest in Watkins, a boyhood Gunners fan.Then Duran was given a straight red card at Newcastle and when he completed his suspension, Emery did not feel his form or attitude merited a return to the team. Al Nassr arrived with a £70million offer for Duran and Villa decided to cut their losses on a player who was hugely difficult to manage.Villa were unwilling to sell both forwards in the same window and Watkins was denied his dream move to Arsenal, whose offers never approached Villa’s £65million valuation. The forward was disappointed but at the end of the window, Emery said: ‘Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa.’As far as the Spaniard is concerned, the same applies now. Emery has already lost Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa this summer and wants a few senior men to stick with him to build the new era, which includes another Champions League campaign this season.Usually, Emery does not stand in a player’s way if he wants to depart but this one feels more personal. Aston Villa have already lost the likes of Youri Tielemans (left) and Morgan Rogers (right) this summer and Watkins (centre) may be next Jhon Duran was primed to be Villa’s No1 striker 18 months ago before a red card at NewcastleContrasting positionsWatkins is easily the top client at Two Touch, the agency run by former Arsenal youngster Paolo Vernazza which represents an extensive list of players including Watkins’ Villa team-mate Matty Cash and Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes.If Watkins were to move to Al Hilal, it would likely be one of Two Touch’s biggest deals and it is clear Villa are unhappy with how Vernazza has handled it. Vernazza may yet push this one through but were he to have his time again, he might make a different plan. Daily Mail Sport has attempted to contact Vernazza since Sunday but he has yet to respond.Watkins is thought to earn a little more than £100,000 a week at Villa yet the salary proposed by Al Hilal is thought to be substantially more. Watkins has been Villa’s leading scorer in every season since he joined from Brentford in 2020 and is their all-time top Premier League marksman.He has also seen Ezri Konsa, who is two years younger, allowed to join Arsenal for roughly the same sum Villa want from Al Hilal. Watkins turns 31 in December and if he believed Villa’s price was too high for a player his age, you could understand it. Not surprisingly, Villa see it differently.Since Emery took charge in 2022, Watkins has developed into one of the best strikers in Europe, thanks also to Emery’s willingness to back him. Duran had to score five times after coming off the bench before he was given a run in the side. Donyell Malen was sold to Roma last January because Emery backed Watkins over the Dutchman, who has since scored 18 times in 21 games for the Serie A club.Even when Watkins scored only once before December last season, and only once more between January 4 and March 11, Emery kept faith – and was rewarded when his main man hit 12 in 13 games at the end of the season to force his way into England’s World Cup squad.Emery has lost four key players this summer and with two forwards injured, he felt he really needed Watkins at Brighton. No wonder he was ticking before the pre-match interviews. With Emery, the less he says, often the angrier he is.He looked a man on the edge at the Amex Stadium, where he argued with the fourth official far more than usual, grew irritable with the opposing bench and stalked down the tunnel at full time without approaching Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler for a handshake. Emery and Hurzeler are certainly not best friends, but the reaction was still telling. Emery looked a man on the edge at the Amex Stadium, where he argued with the fourth official far more than usual and grew irritable with the opposing bench Watkins struck 12 goals in the final 13 games of last season to force his way into England’s squad for the World Cup, where he scored in the warm-up against Costa RicaIs there a way back?A year ago, it looked as though Emiliano Martinez had played his final game for Villa. Desperate to move to Manchester United or Atletico Madrid, Martinez was not included in the Villa side for the home defeat by Crystal Palace – a display just as bad as the Brighton one.Martinez is still at Villa today, still trying to get out, though he knuckled down last season and helped the club win the Europa League. So it would be foolish to write off Watkins’ Villa career just yet.The Saudi Pro League’s top clubs can also be ruthless. If they decide a target is no longer worth pursuing, they will move on. Right now, that is the nightmare scenario for Watkins.Yet the best outcome for all parties is probably to agree a deal. Watkins would have a huge job winning over Villa fans again. If he moves, he will have his new chapter and Villa will be able to pursue his replacement.If Watkins stays Villa will give him a new deal, but that risks a loveless marriage. Despite the late goal rush, there were signs last season that Watkins was in decline. Do player or club really want to be tied to one another for the next two or three seasons?There have already been informal talks behind the scenes regarding Nicolas Jackson and Emery is keen on the Chelsea striker, who he coached at Villarreal. In midfield, they hope Leon Goretzka will arrive while there have been discussions for Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez, even though he is injured. There have already been informal talks behind the scenes regarding Nicolas Jackson and Emery is keen on the Chelsea striker, who he coached at Villarreal There have been discussions for Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez (right), even though he is injured. Either way, Villa need Watkins’ future sorted before they host Arsenal on MondayEither way, Villa need Watkins’ future sorted before they take on Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday.With both Abraham and Madjo still struggling, one of Villa’s best-ever forwards risks being booed by some of his own fans in their first home game of the season, against the team he supported.If nothing else, that prospect should focus a few minds.