Arsenal have had a significant bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa, after identifying the England striker as a priority target.
Arsenal are thought to have made the approach last week but Villa have no desire to sell Watkins. Villa are also braced for a bid from Al-Nassr for Jhon Durán and could reluctantly sell the Colombia forward if they received about £80m.
The Saudi Pro League club are thought to be weighing up whether to spend big on Durán, after agreeing a deal to sign the Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface. Villa, who host Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday hoping to automatically qualify for the last 16, will not entertain selling both Durán and Watkins in this window.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal return with a second bid for Watkins. Their manager, Mikel Arteta, has not hidden his desire to strengthen his attack after injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. “Ideally we need some help,” Arteta said last week. “We were short already and now we are even shorter. The team still copes with that.”
Watkins has scored 10 goals in 31 appearances for Villa this season, including the equaliser in their recent 2-2 draw at Arsenal. The 29-year-old, who signed from Brentford five years ago, was a boyhood Arsenal fan. “That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said in 2020.
Watkins is thought to be Unai Emery’s first-choice striker despite Durán’s prolific form, especially off the bench, this season. Watkins has three years on his contract and Durán signed a new deal to 2030 towards the end of last year.
Villa are angered at the timing of the bid emerging, with this the second Champions League game derailed by transfer noise surrounding one of their prized assets. West Ham’s bid for Durán came on the eve of Villa’s defeat in Monaco last week.
Article by:Source: Ben Fisher
