Ollie Watkins: Arsenal bid for Aston Villa star rejected - sources

» Ollie Watkins: Arsenal bid for Aston Villa star rejected – sources


Aston Villa have rejected a formal offer from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins, sources have told ESPN.

Arsenal want to sign a forward before Monday’s transfer deadline and are pursuing alternative options after accepting Benjamin Sesko is unlikely to leave RB Leipzig this month.

Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal have now made a formal move for Watkins but their opening bid was dismissed out of hand by Villa. They are now expected to return with an improved offer once Villa’s Champions League fate is determined.

Villa host Celtic on Wednesday evening targeting automatic qualification to the round of 16.

Watkins is thought to be open to a move to Emirates Stadium, having previously said in 2020: “That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day.”

However, the England international has three years left on his deal and Villa are in a strong negotiating position to demand a high fee.

Another factor complicating Arsenal’s pursuit of Watkins is interest from Al Nassr in Villa striker Jhon Durán with the Saudi Pro League transfer window set to close on Friday. Villa would not consider selling both Duran and Watkins in this window.

Duran is valued at £80 million ($99.5m) and Al Nassr are said to be weighing up a big-money move for either the 21-year-old or Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface. Either way, Arteta is determined to bolster his attacking options after losing both Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka to injury.

“Ideally we need some help,” Arteta said on Friday. “We were short already and now we are even shorter. The team still copes with that.”



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