Arsenal and Manchester United both have Ollie Watkins on their list of striker targets this summer
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Time to cash in? Villa striker Ollie Watkins(Image: Ash Crowden/Shutterstock)
Ollie Watkins’ value in the transfer market may be depreciating with every passing transfer window - but does that mean Aston Villa should sell?
Watkins will turn 31 at the end of next year, and by then, he will have hoped to edge closer to joining the Premier League 100 club.
The striker surpassed Gabby Agbonlahor’s tally for Villa after scoring his 75th top-flight goal against Bournemouth in May. It was his 16th league goal of the most recent campaign and his 44th in all competitions since the start of the previous season.
Asked about his next objective, Watkins said: "To keep scoring goals. A hundred Premier League goals - I think that puts you into another category. I’m not too far off that - 25 to go - that can happen in a season. And to win a trophy."
The closest Villa came to having a tilt at silverware last season was in the FA Cup, when they lost a Wembley semi-final to Crystal Palace.
Discussing that defeat, Watkins added: "You know, we were all disappointed with how we performed against Palace. We had been on an amazing run before that, and on such a big day for the club, we didn’t turn up.
"We hold our hands up for that, but this is something we had our eyes on - me especially: this record, and winning a trophy as well. That would have been the cherry on top of the season."
Those comments certainly suggest Watkins is planning for his future at Villa Park, despite interest from a few clubs, including Arsenal - the club he supported as a boy.
Mikel Arteta is known to be a fan of Watkins, though he reportedly prioritises the likes of Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško.
Put off by their huge price tags, perhaps Arsenal will eventually turn to Watkins later in the summer, but by then Manchester United may have already stepped up their interest.
If Rasmus Hojlund departs, Watkins could be targeted as he features on a list of forwards United appreciate as Ruben Amorim continues to rebuild his attack.
The figure which Arsenal loosely offered back in January was £40 million. With six fewer months on Watkins' contract now, the Gunners and United might feel that price is more reasonable than it was halfway through last season.
Villa can’t realistically expect to receive offers of more than £60 million - even though Watkins is a proven Premier League goalscorer, and much more than that.
Since the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season, only two players have registered 75+ goals and 30+ assists: Watkins and Mo Salah.
After missing out on Champions League football, could Villa afford to sell Watkins and replace him with a forward who can match his output - and be equally reliable in terms of availability?
It would be a huge risk. Granted, holding onto a 29-year-old instead of cashing in is also a risk in the world of PSR, but equally, Villa are not short of assets.
In fact, to remain complaint with PSR, Villa have sold 10 per cent of their women's team to US-based investors, and then the rest of it will be sold to V Sports. The total value of the sale would be in the region of £55 million, according to reports.
However, Villa must reduce their wage bill to comply with UEFA's SCR rules as their wage-to-turnover ratio exceeds the 70 per cent limit.
It's why there is a realistic chance that Emi Martinez leaves the club this summer, firstly because he is one of the top earners in the team, but also due to the fact he is open for a new challenge.
Lucas Digne - who turns 32 years of age later this month - is also a high earner and has one year left on his deal.
Even if funds must be raised, Watkins would surely be one of the hardest players to replace in the squad.
Replacing goals does not come cheap - especially given Villa’s focus on signing players with a certain profile: youth, upside, and coachability under Unai Emery.
Like with Jhon Durán, any new forward should be brought in to complement Watkins, not to replace him.