Karim Benzema ‘set to terminate £2million-a-WEEK Saudi contract with England star Ollie Watkins lined up as replacement’

KARIM BENZEMA’s lucrative stay in Saudi Arabia could be coming to a close, according to reports, opening the door for Ollie Watkins to line his pockets. Tensions are boiling over for Benzema at Al- Hilal – the second Saudi team he has played for after Al-Ittihad – and if the Frenchman is to leave, he is reportedly demanding that the final year of his £2million-a-WEEK wages are paid in full. Ollie Watkins could be set to follow in Ivan Toney’s footsteps and head to Saudi Arabia Credit: Getty Karim Benzema in action for Al Hilal against Al Faisaly before he was substituted Credit: Reuters According to MaxiFoot, the Saudi giants are considering parting ways with the 38-year-old Frenchman in order to rejuvenate their squad. But the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner will only accept if the final year of his deal is paid in full, and that is proving to be a stumbling block to his departure. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! According to Spanish publication AS, Al- Hilal boss Simonee Inzaghi views Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins as an ideal candidate to replace Benzema. The 30-year-old netted 21 goals in 55 appearances for Villa during the 2025-26 campaign and his pace is a dimension Inzaghi wants to add to his attack. Tensions between Benzema and his club surfaced during Al-Hilal’s 4-2 victory over Al- Faisaly on Friday evening. Despite scoring earlier in the match, Benzema was visibly annoyed after being substituted 20 minutes from time for youngster Kader Meite. Addressing the media after the match, Inzaghi sought to defuse the controversy surrounding his veteran star. He said: “We talked about that after the match. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Inzaghi insists he has a good relationship with Benzema Credit: Reuters “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.” Watkins has two years left on his deal with Villa and has been the subject of interest from Arsenal in recent years. Comment now