Merson: If Watkins refused to play, it's disgusting - I don't see Emery staying

Paul Merson, reflecting on Aston Villa's dismal performance against Brighton, has expressed his disbelief at the club's current situation. Following a summer of significant player sales, including key figures like Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers, Villa suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat after conceding four goals in the first 30 minutes.

The turmoil extends to the playing squad, with Ollie Watkins absent from the Brighton match amid transfer speculation from Saudi Arabia, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez also missing the game.

"It breaks your heart to see Villa like this," Merson stated in his Sky Sports column, casting doubt on Unai Emery's long-term future at the club. "You sell all your best players, what do you expect?" While he didn't anticipate such a swift collapse, Merson admits he wasn't expecting a win against Brighton either.

Aston Villa's Significant Summer Sales

• Morgan Rogers to Chelsea - £117m
• Ezri Konsa to Arsenal - £55m
• Youri Tielemans to Man Utd - £36m
• Donyell Malen to AS Roma - £21.6m
• Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain - £8.5m

Merson described the club's strategy as "madness at the highest level," questioning how a club that recently secured Champions League football and won a European trophy could then divest itself of its top talent. He believes Aston Villa, despite likely avoiding relegation, will struggle to achieve a top-half finish even under a manager of Emery's caliber.

"If Emery's not fed up with this situation, then he's some person," Merson remarked, highlighting the rarity of such a scenario. He drew a parallel to Tottenham's past struggles after a European final, noting Emery's greater success in achieving Champions League qualification. "I don't see Emery hanging around for long if things continue like this," Merson concluded, emphasizing the exodus of players from the manager's squad.

Merson, a former Villa player himself, expressed his sorrow at the club's current predicament. He lamented the missed opportunity to build on their Champions League qualification and European triumph, especially after selling their premier players.

He specifically criticized the contract of Youri Tielemans, pointing out the "£36m release clause" as a significant oversight. Merson argued that such a figure is now remarkably low for a player of Tielemans' caliber, especially considering teams battling relegation are spending comparable amounts. He deemed it "the deal of the century," suggesting it was a poor decision for Villa to include such a clause.

The sale of Ezri Konsa for £55m, an international center-back who had participated in the World Cup, was also met with disappointment.

'Disgusting' if Watkins Refused to Play

Merson strongly condemned the alleged actions of Ollie Watkins if he was fit but refused to play against Brighton. "If it's true that Ollie Watkins was fit to play in that Brighton game and he didn't make himself available, then that's disgusting at the highest level."

He questioned the player's motivation, emphasizing the considerable financial rewards and the loyalty expected by the fans. "You're getting paid a lot of money. People are sitting in the Holte End and they pay a lot of money for season tickets and for travelling up and down the country - and you can't put yourself out to play a football match?"

Merson highlighted the privilege of playing in the Premier League and the significant income players receive, stating, "Your job literally is to turn up at a weekend and play a football match." He acknowledged that Watkins' head might have been turned by lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, given his age.

He stressed the importance of playing for the fans, noting that supporters would "give their right arm to play that game the other day." Merson suggested that Watkins should apologize if he refused to play and that the club should consider withholding his wages for that week, as his primary responsibility is to be available for matches.