While Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres continue to head up Arsenal’s striker shortlist this summer, a move for reported alternative Ollie Watkins currently looks unlikely.
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
At this point in the summer transfer window, you’d be hard pressed to find an Arsenal fan without at least some awareness that the club have been linked with moves for either RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko or Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
But one alternative that still seemed to be at least somewhat possible was another move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Various reports have suggested Arsenal aren’t completely ruling it out, after their January bid for him.
David Ornstein confirmed earlier this month that Watkins was high among Arsenal’s options, along with Sesko and Gyokeres.
aston villa fc v celtic fc uefa champions league 2024 25 league phase md8 1
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Yet Sam Dean reports for The Telegraph that whilst Arsenal have continued to be linked with Watkins, sources insist another offer for the Villa striker is now unlikely.
The Gunners do seem to have alternatives to the main two options, with Dean reporting that they’ve also looked at Joao Pedro of Brighton and other attackers in Europe. But the Watkins deal isn’t progressing as it stands.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Aston Villa FC at Goodison Park on January 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
It’s not hard to see the downsides of a move for Watkins. The centre-forward will turn 30 in December, and Villa rejected an Arsenal bid of £40m in January. Paying significantly more than that for a player towards the end of his peak years would be a risk.
On the other hand, Watkins is a rare potential Arsenal target who is already playing and scoring goals in the Premier League, in addition to getting some Champions League experience this season.
Some fans have suggested Watkins is the “win now” option among Arsenal’s targets, and perhaps the England international could still return to the picture if all else fails. It’s just evidently not a priority deal right now.
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