Aston Villa supporters were finally able to see Ollie Watkins make his World Cup debut for England as he came on as a substitute for the final 12 minutes against Panama on Saturday.
The 30-year-old shooter had never been in a World Cup squad until this tournament, and was a substitute in the first two group stage matches against Croatia and Panama.
Although he didn’t score in his brief cameo in America, it was still a great moment for the Villains star to play for the Three Lions on the world stage.
Watkins scored 21 goals in 54 competitive appearances for Villa in the 2025-26 season, including a return of 16 goals in 37 Premier League games, and is on a free transfer.
However, the England frontman will turn 31 later this year and it remains to be seen whether his level of scoring ability will decline as he progresses into his 30s.
Aston Villa considering signing Premier League centre-forward
Since arriving from Brentford in the summer of 2020, he has scored 108 goals in 278 games for the club and has provided a reliable goal threat throughout his time at Villa Park.
But Unai Emery may have to start thinking about what life will be like once Watkins’ powers start to wane, and the Spaniard is already eyeing the England international’s long-term successor.
According to Fussball Daten, Aston Villa are one of a number of teams looking to sign Sunderland centre-forward Brian Brobbey in the summer transfer window.
According to the newspaper, the Villains are considering signing the Dutch national team player who scored three goals at this summer’s World Cup in order to strengthen their attacking power.
But he added that Stuttgart, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were also in the race for the former Ajax star.
Fassboll Daten explains that a fee of up to £47 million could be needed to lure the Black Cats into signing the number nine after they finished seventh in the Premier League and qualified for the Europa League.
The beginning of the end for Ollie Watkins
It may seem a strange thing to say from Watkins, who scored 21 goals last season, but signing Blobby this summer could be the beginning of the end for Watkins as Villa’s regular starter.
As the England international heads into the second half of his career, it remains to be seen how this will affect his game, where he relies on his mobility and speed to get off the back line and create chances.
Brobby is six years younger than Watkins and will arrive as a young player with the potential to lead Villa’s line for years to come, just as the Englishman did when he signed from Brentford at the same age.
25/26PL | Blobby | Watkins |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 31 | 37 |
xG | 5.94 | 15.14 |
the goal | 7 | 16 |
xG differential | +1.06 | +0.86 |
Duels won per match | 3.6 | 3.2 |
Number of wins per match in aerial combat | 2.1 | 1.0 |
Aerial duel success rate | 47% | 39% |
The Dutchman is already a more physical and powerful center forward in the Premier League, as evidenced by his superior numbers in duels, especially in the air, compared to Watkins last season.
Although he has only scored seven goals in the top flight for the Black Cats, given their respective xG totals, Brobby hasn’t been given as many quality chances as Villa’s forwards and could do better in a team that creates more chances.
His form for the Netherlands at the World Cup, where he has scored three goals in three games so far in the competition, is proof that he can be a decisive goalscorer in a team that focuses on creating chances on a regular basis.
Blobby, who was described as a “dangerous figure” by journalist Josh Bunting, also scored 21 goals in 41 games for Ajax in 2023/24, showing that he has been a consistent goalscorer at club level in the past.
Therefore, signing the powerful Dutch center forward could be the beginning of the end for Watkins. This is because he is a much younger striker who could develop into a more complete number nine given his physicality and goalscoring quality.
The next Rodgers: Aston Villa negotiated £50m deal with Premier League star
Aston Villa may need to sell Morgan Rodgers in the summer transfer window.
