Aston Villa manager Unai Emery hinted heavily that Ollie Watkins had been reluctant to play for the club as they were hammered 4-0 by Brighton, amid interest in the striker from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Villa say they have rejected four offers from Al-Hilal for Watkins, the latest of which is thought to be around £34million, a price the Premier League club will not sell at.
The England striker was not included in the squad even though Villa's only other forwards, Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham, are out injured.
As far as Villa are concerned, Watkins is understood to be neither ill nor injured. However, he is not thought to have trained fully last week. Watkins' representative has been contacted for comment.
Asked about Watkins' position, Emery said: "This question is for him. I can answer only with my silence."
Asked whether Watkins was refusing to play, Emery said: "I think you can call him, you can call his agent and he can respond." Asked if he felt let down by a player who has improved greatly under him, Emery added: "He can only explain his answer, I can't. We had two strikers injured and another striker, it's his answer."
Villa torn apart at Brighton
In one of their worst performances under Emery, a new-look Villa side were torn apart by Brighton, with Joao Gomes sent off on his Premier League debut for the club as the home side went 4-0 up in just over half an hour.
Due largely to UEFA financial rules, Villa have sold about £250million worth of talent this summer. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all departed, and Watkins and goalkeeper Emi Martinez, another absentee against Brighton, could follow. All six were mainstays of the Villa team that beat Freiburg 3-0 in May to lift the Europa League.
Emery's transfer window frustration
Villa have often struggled when the transfer window is open, and Emery joked: "I think the transfer window should always be closed. In the last three years, until the transfer window closes, we have had problems like we are having now. The players have the mentality I want, not complaining, not blaming, and trying to be patient, even with results like today. We have had this problem every season and we overcame it. But it's something hard for us every year."
Brighton also missing key players
Brighton have also lost key men this summer, and there are doubts about the futures of Yankuba Minteh, who boss Fabian Hurzeler says has an ankle injury, and Carlos Baleba. Minteh is wanted by Liverpool and Baleba by Manchester United, and neither player featured.
Brighton were four goals up inside 31 minutes thanks to a Victor Lindelof own goal, a tap-in from Maxim De Cuyper and a rapid double from Jack Hinshelwood.
Hurzeler said: "The red card was another game changer and we played a mature second half, as it's not that easy to find a good balance when you're one man up. I was very happy with our performance. Minteh has an issue with his ankle and he's an important player for us, but we saw today we were able to replace him. It's important we don't rely on one player."
