Arsenal recently had a substantial bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa, with Villa also facing pressure over Jhon Durán, who appears set to leave the club. Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club, has made an offer for the Colombian striker, potentially rising to £80 million. Durán, despite having signed a contract extension in October 2024, looks likely to depart Villa Park, with Al-Nassr now targeting him after initially pursuing Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface.
Meanwhile, Villa are adamant about keeping Watkins. Arsenal’s bid for the England international came last week, but Villa made it clear that they have no intention of selling him. While it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will return with another offer, Villa are hesitant to lose both Watkins and Durán in the same window.
Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, seemed resigned to Durán’s potential departure, stating that if he leaves, it would be a positive outcome for the club as it would reflect well on their development of young talent. Emery emphasized that any move would be driven by the player’s career ambitions, and that the club’s priority is to retain their key assets.
In contrast, Emery was firm about keeping Watkins at Villa, underlining that while offers for players can be considered, the club’s sporting objectives are reliant on having their best players, particularly the striker. Watkins, who has been a crucial part of Villa’s attack this season with 10 Premier League goals, remains a key figure in Emery’s plans.
Arsenal’s interest in Watkins comes at a time when the Gunners are dealing with injury concerns to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed the need for reinforcements in the attack, acknowledging that the team is already short on options. Despite this, Villa is focused on keeping their squad intact during the transfer window.
Watkins, who joined Villa from Brentford five years ago, has been a standout performer for the club, including scoring in a recent 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium. His long-standing admiration for Arsenal, having expressed his boyhood dream of playing for them, adds an emotional layer to the ongoing speculation. However, with three years left on his contract, Villa is not inclined to part with their prized striker, especially under the current circumstances.
As for Durán, Villa are frustrated by the timing of the transfer speculation, which has overshadowed their preparations for important matches. West Ham had also shown interest in Durán recently, highlighting the growing demand for the young forward’s services.
