The class of 2025/26 at Aston Villa will go down in history. But school has broken up at Villa Park, with many of Unai Emery's superstars heading off for pastures new.

The big one: Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea in a £117m transfer. There was a sense before the season ended that the Three Lions attacker wanted to move on, and the fee banked was considerable.

But Rogers isn't the only one jumping ship. Youri Tielemans has signed for Manchester United, Emi Martinez is making his annual push toward the exit, Lucas Digne has returned home, and Ezri Konsa is on the verge of finalising a transfer to Premier League champions Arsenal.

It's a good thing that Emery is one of the sharpest managerial minds out there, and he's recruiting shrewdly to counter the losses. However, the worst may be yet to come, with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal making a push for Ollie Watkins.

Why it might be the right time to sell Ollie Watkins

For Aston Villa, Watkins is a club legend. The club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 91 strikes, he has established himself as one of the finest English strikers of his generation.

But all good things come to an end, and while the 30-year-old is still a key figure for Emery's side, he left a bit to be desired at times last term, and if the Lions receive the right price, it might be the right time to cash in, with this summer very much bearing the feel of a new chapter in the Midlands.

A late burst of form last season ensured Watkins recovered his pride and helped his side to title-winning heights. But we must remember there were barren stretches of the campaign for the England international.

Watkins is understood to have agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal, who have submitted an official €45m (£39m) bid to sign the experienced forward.

Cashing in must only be green-lit if Aston Villa find the right replacement. A number of options have been sounded out, and right now, the Villa are setting their sights on Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, who seemingly has no future at Stamford Bridge and who has been valued at £65m.

Jackson, 26, is a talented, dynamic striker. He is returning from a decent loan spell with German giants Bayern Munich, but remains surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Given that Jackson has suffered as one of the more wasteful Premier League strikers in recent times, it might be wise for Villa to explore a different track in the coming days.

How Aston Villa can replace Watkins this summer

In many ways, Watkins is irreplaceable. He has shaped the Emery era and spearheaded Aston Villa into separate Champions League campaigns, with last year's Europa League triumph immortalising the England striker and all his teammates too. But, all the same, the Villans will need someone to fill in at No. 9.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are among a number of Premier League sides who have held talks all summer for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who has been made surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea want £50m for their failed addition, but suitors believe £40m is achieveable. Delap, 23, is also on Everton and Nottingham Forest's radar, but if Watkins is moved on, there's every reason that Villa should accelerate their plans and make him their top target.

Delap is not riding the crest of a wave. Last season, he scored only once in the Premier League. Chelsea proved the wrong move, but if Watkins moves on, the 23-year-old could rekindle himself in the Premier League and return to the form that secured him as a superstar with Ipswich, where he scored 12 times across 32 starts in 2024/25, effective even as Kieran McKenna's side slumped straight back down into the Championship.

At Stamford Bridge, Delap was arguably mismanaged, but he proved with Ipswich that he has the power, pace and potency in the final third to cement himself as a first-rate Premier League goalscorer.

For Ipswich, he averaged 1.1 dribbles and won 4.2 duels per Premier League match. Despite only completed six passes a game, the 6 foot 2 striker showcased plenty of deft link-up play, also ranking among the top 14% of positional peers for carries into the danger area.

There's a lot to work with, and that blend of athleticism, strength and natural sharpness in front of goal marks him as the perfect Watkins replacement, especially when considering Emery's track record in developing exciting players.

Look at Delap's clinical ability. He has scored 13 goals across two Premier League campaigns. He has only missed 14 big chances in that time. Look at Jackson, who scored 24 goals across two years in the English top flight, but also missed 43 big chances.

Delap might not be the superstar signing that some would hope would replace Watkins at Villa Park this summer, but he is one of the most talented up-and-coming strikers in England, and with a bit of work, Emery could turn him into a superstar.