Ollie Watkins: Arsenal bid for Aston Villa striker rejected but Gunners expected to return with improved offer

29 January 2025, 17:09 | Updated: 30 January 2025, 07:18

Unai Emery said Aston Villa will be "very demanding" over Ollie Watkins' future after the club rejected a bid for the striker from Arsenal on Wednesday.

It is expected Arsenal will return with an improved deal after seeing their first offer knocked back but Villa's position is that Watkins is not for sale, which makes it unlikely a deal will be done in this window.

Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr believe they have struck a deal for Villa's other top striker Jhon Duran.

Watkins started and scored in Villa's 4-2 win over Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday night, tapping the club's badge as he celebrated his goal, while Duran was an unused substitute.

Emery confirmed after the game that he wanted to keep Watkins at Villa Park and appeared to lay down a warning to Arsenal over their pursuit of the striker ahead of Monday's deadline.

"I don't want [him to leave]," he told his press conference. "It is good news to have an offer from other clubs, or interest. It is good.

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