Aston Villa were understandably frustrated when news surfaced on the day of their crucial Champions League match that Arsenal had placed a bid for striker Ollie Watkins. While the timing was unfortunate, the bid had actually been submitted a few days earlier, and the news just happened to break on match day. It seemed like someone behind the scenes had a bit of fun with the timing.
After the game, Villa manager Unai Emery was visibly irritated by the ongoing questions about Watkins.
He made it clear that he did not want to sell the striker, stating, “We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad. Every player can be in the market if it’s beneficial for both the player and the club. But to get this deal, we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker.”
In truth, Villa should have seen the bid as a compliment rather than an inconvenience. While much of the focus was on the future of Jhon Duran, with Arsenal and Chelsea potentially making a late move for him before the January transfer window closed, a bid for Watkins was quietly made. At 29, Watkins has little to no resale value, making him a short-term investment for any club looking to sign him. A five-year contract would take him to the age of 34, likely marking the final big deal of his career.
Arsenal has often been criticized for not securing top fees for their assets, and signing Watkins would continue that trend.
However, the Gunners are focused on the present. They are in need of another forward to push them toward the Premier League title, and a goalscorer seems to be the missing piece.
While Duran, at 21, represents a long-term investment with enormous potential, Arsenal’s priority is to strengthen their squad for the immediate future. The Gunners have already had a £60 million bid for Watkins rejected, with another expected before the window closes on Monday.
Villa cannot afford to lose both of their top strikers. The news that Duran is close to a big-money move to Al-Nassr, with a medical scheduled in London, adds further complexity to the situation.
The Gunners will likely face difficulty in pursuing Watkins while Duran’s deal progresses. If the Duran transfer to the Saudi Pro League falls through, Arsenal could have a better chance of securing Watkins for a deal over £60 million, but how likely that is remains uncertain.
Leave a Comment