Arsenal are staying updated on Ollie Watkins’ situation at Aston Villa ahead of the summer transfer window, as one of a number of potential summer striker signings.
Arsenal made one genuine attempt to sign a striker in the January transfer window, and it was a bid for Aston Villa centre-forward Ollie Watkins.
Their £40m offer was ultimately turned down, the window closed without another bid. Many believed that would be the end of the story. Watkins will be 30 at the end of the year, and Arsenal seem likely to take a long-term approach to their forward recruitment this summer.
Yet James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta remains informed on Watkins’ situation, and Mikel Arteta is a fan of the player.
Unsurprisingly, McNicholas adds that Arsenal have concerns over paying a fee of more than £40m for Watkins at his current age. But it seems the door isn’t entirely closed.
What seems most likely to scupper a deal for Watkins is the number of other options Arsenal have.
Links with Alexander Isak (likely off the market), Benjamin Sesko, and Viktor Gyokeres have been widespread in recent months, but McNicholas adds that there is also admiration for Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as Joao Pedro of Brighton.
If the club aren’t entirely convinced about another bid for Watkins, having already seen one offer turned down in January, it seems more likely they’ll turn to one of their alternatives this summer.
But if the other options are taken off the table for whatever reason, Berta is evidently staying prepared.