Arsenal to make 2nd bid for Villa striker Ollie Watkins

Arsenal are preparing a second bid for Ollie Watkins after Aston Villa rejected their initial offer.

With Jhon Duran set for Al Nassr, Aston Villa are reluctant to lose their main striker, but Mikel Arteta remains keen on securing the England international before the transfer deadline.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and Celtic FC at Villa Park on January 29, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) — Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Arsenal remain determined to sign Ollie Watkins, preparing a second bid for the Aston Villa striker after their initial offer—reportedly just under £60 million—was rejected.

Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer of the England international, and with Villa under financial pressure to comply with Premier League spending rules, Arsenal believe there is a chance to prise Watkins away before the transfer deadline.

Villa rebuff Arsenal bid for Watkins
Daily Mail30 Jan 2025By SAMI MOKBEL
REUTERS
Top target: Arsenal are keen to snap up Watkins
ARSENAL have launched a stunning move for Ollie Watkins — but their hopes of sealing the deal hung in the balance last night after Aston Villa rejected the offer. Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer of the England striker, 29, and Arsenal are expected to make an improved offer before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Mail Sport revealed the Gunners’ move yesterday, with subsequent reports claiming it was worth £60million. Villa would prefer to sell Jhon Duran, who is set for a medical after Saudi side Al Nassr agreed a £64.5m fee for him.

It is doubtful Villa would sell both Watkins and Duran this month.

THE timing of Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins shows that with Aston Villa, football’s wealthiest clubs smell blood. Villa are furious the Gunners made their offer for Watkins — a boyhood Arsenal fan — a matter of hours before their crucial game against Celtic. It risked unsettling a key player but the football world has long known Villa need to make a big sale this month, and that is why Arsenal were prepared to upset them. Villa are vulnerable. Without selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus last June, the club risked a points deduction and meeting Premier League spending rules is likely to be a balancing act for them again. Arsenal knew their timing would anger Villa but are confident Watkins would be keen on the move.

Given Watkins’ fellow striker Jhon Duran looks likely to join Saudi club Al Nassr in the next 24 hours, it is highly unlikely Villa would allow their other main goalscorer to leave before the window shuts on Monday. Indeed, Villa do not want to sell Watkins and had planned to address the matter after the Celtic match. Though the departure of Duran for about £64.5million would keep the wolf from the door for now, Arsenal’s Watkins bid sends a message: Villa’s rivals think their best players are gettable and they will be back in the summer. Watkins would be ideal for Arsenal, who are trying to mount a title challenge without an orthodox No 9. The 29-year-old, who scored in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium earlier this month, is an excellent finisher with the pace to stretch opponents and expose deep defences.

As his battle with Duran has shown, Watkins goes into his shell a little when he has competition. He would not have that problem at Arsenal. Do not be surprised if Arsenal bid again in the next few days and, if they are unsuccessful, have another try in June. Clubs will also target Morgan Rogers, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey. With Villa’s wage bill totalling more than 90 per cent of their revenue, the books must be balanced and the easiest way to do this is to sell players.

It’s easy to have sympathy for Villa. Profit and sustainability rules are a constant battle when you do not have the financial might of Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. By finishing fourth last year, Villa gave the so-called big six a shake-up and they could yet do so again this season. But those dreams come at a cost. Sooner or later, clubs of Villa’s means have to rein in their ambition. Arsenal’s move for Watkins suggests Villa’s rivals believe they have hit the glass ceiling.

Article Name:Villa rebuff Arsenal bid for Watkins
Publication:Daily Mail
Author:By SAMI MOKBEL
Start Page:72
End Page:72 — Villa rebuff Arsenal bid for Watkins – Daily Mail, Thursday 30 January 2025

Villa, however, are reluctant to part with their top scorer, especially with Jhon Duran already set to leave for Al Nassr in a £64.5 million deal.

Manager Unai Emery has insisted he does not want to sell Watkins, stating, “I don’t want [to sell]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad. Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker.

“We are working, the club is working and trying to compete in the transfer window because we need some players. Some can leave, but it is not the time to speak about it.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa FC at Emirates Stadium on January 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) — Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Arsenal’s move comes at a crucial time for Villa, who are celebrating a return to the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since 1983. Their 4-2 victory over Celtic secured a top-eight finish, guaranteeing progression to the last 16, where they will face one of Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Club Brugge, or Atalanta.

Villa’s ability to compete at this level has left them with a difficult balancing act—ambitious in Europe but financially constrained by spending regulations.

Watkins, who scored against Arsenal in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier this month, fits the profile of a striker Arteta has been searching for. The 29-year-old has pace, finishing ability, and thrives in open spaces—qualities Arsenal lack in the absence of a traditional No. 9.

With Raheem Sterling struggling and a failed approaches for Jhon Duran, Benjamin Šeško and Alexander Isak, Arsenal apparently now see Watkins as the ideal addition to a squad chasing a Premier League title.

The club’s urgency to sign a striker has only intensified following their Champions League victory over Girona, where Ethan Nwaneri stole the headlines with a stunning long-range goal but Arsenal’s overall attacking display reinforced the need for reinforcements.

While Villa are determined to keep Watkins for now, Arsenal’s interest is unlikely to fade. If they fail to secure his signature before Monday’s deadline, a renewed approach in the summer appears inevitable.