Terrible move for Watkins, can kiss any hope of playing for England again goodbye.
I'm hoping at least this means Villa are in for a striker and the Delap rumours to us go bye bye as he signs for them instead.
General Transfer Thread
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Audrey Horne
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Re: General Transfer Thread
Yeah but he only featured in the 3rd place play off.
Watkins may well still get a call up, but if Kane is injured or if he retires from international footy over the next 2-3 years then Watkins would have probably been favourite as a successor, even if only short term until a younger player made the grade.
Just seems career suicide for someone who worked so hard to get back in to the England squad with his performances post Jan.
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Audrey Horne
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Re: General Transfer Thread
Agree, it is disappointing.AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2026 8:04 am Yeah but he only featured in the 3rd place play off.
Watkins may well still get a call up, but if Kane is injured or if he retires from international footy over the next 2-3 years then Watkins would have probably been favourite as a successor, even if only short term until a younger player made the grade.
Just seems career suicide for someone who worked so hard to get back in to the England squad with his performances post Jan.
Re: General Transfer Thread
Same as I thought about Ndiaye going there - money over achievement. Hate it
Re: General Transfer Thread
What else is he going to achieve in the game?
He’s had a good career, won a European trophy with Villa, scored an iconic goal for England in a semi final.
He’s 30, he’s not good enough for a bigger club to buy him. Might as well take the money instead of dropping down a level.
He’s had a good career, won a European trophy with Villa, scored an iconic goal for England in a semi final.
He’s 30, he’s not good enough for a bigger club to buy him. Might as well take the money instead of dropping down a level.
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Audrey Horne
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Re: General Transfer Thread
He could carry on being successful in one of the best leagues in the world rather than go to some two bob league. 30 is no age, Harry Kane is 33.TheRam wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2026 12:31 pm What else is he going to achieve in the game?
He’s had a good career, won a European trophy with Villa, scored an iconic goal for England in a semi final.
He’s 30, he’s not good enough for a bigger club to buy him. Might as well take the money instead of dropping down a level.
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Free Agent
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Re: General Transfer Thread
The Saudi’s are cutting back on sportswashing (in football at least) so this could be his last chance
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blueToffee
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Re: General Transfer Thread
Harry Kane is the type of striker (like Lewandowski before him) that doesn't really rely on his pace though and is an elite level finisher.
That's not Watkins' game. No shame in it, players play in different ways but he probably is coming to the end of his top level career as he is turning 31 in December and it's just the way of things that pace starts to drop off. See Salah for how quick that can happen at times.
He probably could play for another year, but he could probably play there for the next two years and earn more than he's made in the last 5 too with a lot less pressure to boot.
Re: General Transfer Thread
An absolute cop out at that age.
A nothing league and playing in front of a handful and those that are there know your only there for the money.
It's a statement i'm giving up
Re: General Transfer Thread
How successful is he going to be?
Villa have been gutted in the market, and once his pace goes he doesn’t have the ability to become a different type of player.
He’s already been showing signs of decline over the last eighteen months. Technically he’s a very poor player.
He’s run his team race, had a great career now he’s cashing in. Fair play to him.
Re: General Transfer Thread
Brighton have signed Canadian striker Promise David.
I had thought that would be a step up slightly beyond him at the moment but really happy to see it.
He's going to bully a lot of defenders, at times will look a little Beto but I feel he's still got room to improve.
Like many Canadian players his professional career started later so you typically see their development curve lead to a later peak. He was in the Estonian league 2 years ago.
He's a great character as well, definitely a bit jealous we didnt move for him. Swap him in for Beto would have been nice.
This comp is a bit old but shows largely what he is about:
I had thought that would be a step up slightly beyond him at the moment but really happy to see it.
He's going to bully a lot of defenders, at times will look a little Beto but I feel he's still got room to improve.
Like many Canadian players his professional career started later so you typically see their development curve lead to a later peak. He was in the Estonian league 2 years ago.
He's a great character as well, definitely a bit jealous we didnt move for him. Swap him in for Beto would have been nice.
This comp is a bit old but shows largely what he is about:
Re: General Transfer Thread
I’m sure the £100m he makes in Saudi will compensate him for the 180 mins he was probably gonna get for England in the next year or so
It’s a job.
Re: General Transfer Thread
Watching a professional team with infinite budget making sensible transfer decisions is painful