Al-Hilal's Plans for Life After Benzema: Targeting Ollie Watkins

Al-Hilal are already sketching out life after Karim Benzema. The plan has a clear focal point: Ollie Watkins.

Simone Inzaghi has placed the Aston Villa striker at the top of his wishlist to spearhead the attack next season, with club bosses intent on refreshing an ageing squad. According to MaxiFoot, the Saudi side are seriously weighing up parting company with their 38-year-old French star this summer to drive that overhaul.

There is a catch. A big one.

Benzema stand-off freezes Watkins move

Any move for Watkins is locked behind one obstacle: Benzema’s contract.

The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner wants every euro of the final year of his deal paid in full before he agrees to a mutual termination. That demand has brought negotiations to a halt and left Al-Hilal’s summer planning in limbo. Until the stand-off breaks, Watkins remains an idea, not an active deal.

The tension around Benzema’s future spilled into public view during Al-Hilal's 4-2 win over Al Faisaly on Friday. He scored, but the story of his night came later. With 20 minutes left, Inzaghi replaced him with youngster Kader Meite. Benzema’s frustration was obvious as he left the pitch, his reaction sharpening the focus on an already delicate situation.

Inzaghi tried to cool everything down when he faced the media.

"We talked about that after the match," he said. "It's normal that he wants to play every match, and I understand him because I was a striker too. At that moment, we had another young player available, Kader Meite, who represents the future of the club. I was joking with Karim after the match, and I have a respectful relationship with him. He is not only a great champion, but also a very great professional."

The coach’s words were calm, conciliatory. Behind the scenes, the mood is far more ruthless.

Foreign quota and a changing of the guard

Reports indicate Al-Hilal’s hierarchy remain set on terminating Benzema’s contract, driven not by emotion but by regulation. The Saudi Pro League’s strict foreign player quota leaves little room for sentiment. To bring in a new overseas star, one has to go.

Club officials want to lower the average age of the squad before next season, and Watkins fits the profile perfectly. At 30, the England international is in his prime and, per AS, Inzaghi views him as an ideal reference point in attack after a 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 21 goals in 55 appearances for Aston Villa.

The logic is clear: swap an ageing icon for a proven Premier League forward who can lead the line for years, not months.

But logic doesn’t pay off contracts.

All roads lead back to Benzema

Everything now circles back to one decision. Until Benzema and Al-Hilal find common ground on a termination package, the club cannot formally move for Watkins. The foreign player slot Benzema occupies is blocking any serious advance.

If the former Real Madrid captain agrees to a settlement, Al-Hilal are ready to hit the accelerator on Watkins. The pursuit will move quickly once the space is freed.

Until then, the situation remains frozen. Benzema, despite all the signals pointing to a summer exit, is still an Al-Hilal player — and the next phase of the club’s project is stuck waiting on his signature.