The severance standoff: How Karim Benzema is blocking Al-Hilal’s move for Ollie Watkins

Al-Hilal are actively seeking to part ways with French striker Karim Benzema during the current summer transfer window as the club looks to overhaul its attacking options ahead of the new campaign.

Read Also: Al-Hilal wants to part ways with Benzema

Inzaghi eyes Watkins as primary replacement

According to recent media reports, Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi has requested the club's administration to facilitate Benzema's departure and secure a new elite forward to lead the frontline.

The Saudi management has identified Aston Villa striker and former Premier League top scorer Ollie Watkins as their primary target to fill the void. Reports indicate that a preliminary agreement regarding personal terms has already been reached with the English international.

Contractual roadblocks and salary dispute

However, engineering Benzema's exit is proving exceptionally difficult due to severe financial and legal complexities. A significant portion of the striker's lucrative wages is funded directly by the governing bodies overseeing the Saudi Pro League, meaning any contract termination requires coordinated official approval from multiple entities.

Benzema is reportedly standing firm, demanding the full payment of his financial dues for the final year of his contract in exchange for agreeing to a mutual termination. Thus far, neither Al-Hilal nor the Saudi Pro League authorities have agreed to meet his severance conditions.

All parties remain locked in intensive negotiations in an attempt to find a viable financial compromise. Al-Hilal are racing against the clock to resolve Benzema's departure and officially register Watkins before the summer transfer window slams shut leaving the French striker's immediate future highly uncertain in the coming days.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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