Aston Villa could be faced with bids for Ollie Watkins this summer
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa
Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs that hold an interest in Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins this summer.
The 29-year-old is viewed as a more cost-effective option than the likes of Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško, even though Villa would hold out for a significant fee to part with their striker.
Watkins is believed to be valued at around £60 million by Villa, who received a loose offer of approximately £40 million from Arsenal back in January.
The two clubs’ valuations were so far apart that no concrete discussions really took place, but Watkins remains on Arsenal’s radar.
Watkins also features on Manchester United’s radar, but a move may only happen if they can find a buyer for Rasmus Højlund, who has attracted interest from Inter Milan.
On Claret & Blue, John Townley explained why Villa must resist offers for Watkins, who broke the club’s Premier League scoring record at the end of last season.
“He has three years left on his contract and is 29 years old, so he'll obviously be turning 30 soon,” he explained. “He’s one of Villa’s higher earners - not the highest, but certainly up there. For those reasons, many people are beginning to think this might be the right time to cash in.
“Personally, I’ve often said that once a player reaches a certain age and contract stage, you have to ask: when’s the best time to sell? And in many cases, the answer is ‘now,’ especially if the club isn’t in a position to turn down a significant fee.
“Villa managed to navigate the PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) situation before the June 30 deadline, but that doesn’t mean it's no longer a concern. Financial sustainability remains an issue. Offloading players like Coutinho, Dendoncker, and possibly Leon Bailey helps reduce the wage bill, but Villa also want to improve - which means spending more.
“Take Morgan Rogers, for example. If he stays and continues to grow, the club will need to reward that progress with a new deal, which again means more money. If he becomes the best player, as many hope he will, then naturally he'll need to be compensated accordingly.
“Which brings us to the main point of this episode: my position on Ollie Watkins. To be clear, I don’t want Villa to sell Watkins this summer.
“I understand the arguments, but I genuinely don't know what striker we could bring in who would not only replicate his goal tally, but also contribute in all the other areas he does - his pressing, his movement, his link-up play.
“Watkins is integral to the way Villa attack. He runs the channels, links up well with players like McGinn, Rogers, and Ramsey, and has great on-field relationships. Even if we signed a striker like Samu from Porto, we're talking about a completely different profile of player - one who hasn’t played in the Premier League, doesn’t know his teammates, and hasn’t built those same relationships.
“Samu has only had two proper senior seasons, with last season being his best. Yes, he impressed at Porto, but that’s in the Portuguese league. If you’re a striker at Porto, Sporting, or Benfica and you don’t score 20+ goals, you’re not staying there long. So we can’t just assume that form would translate to the Premier League.
“So again, I wouldn’t sell Watkins this summer. I’d resist offers. I’d prefer to sell elsewhere in the squad, because Watkins doesn’t just guarantee goals - he’s fundamental to how we play. His availability, consistency, and importance to the team make him irreplaceable at this point.”
Snap up limited edition Aston Villa branded Ozzy Osbourne merchandise
When Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath take to the stage this weekend they will be rightly hailed as the pioneers of heavy metal - and will do so at the home of their beloved Aston Villa.
To celebrate that link with the rockers and the club - a series of brilliant, unique souvenir merchandise is now available.
All of the designs combine retro designs, the Villa colours, and a homage to Ozzy Osbourne and with only a limited amount available - you will need to act fast to get your hands on yours!
There is, for example, a stunning retro Ozzy Osbourne home shirt which you can get your hands on here.
If you want a scarf for the gig or for match days - there is a brilliant Ozzy scarf decked out in retro design and club colours - buy yours now by clicking here
Another superb design right out the 70s is this tracksuit top with Ozzy's name and the club's branding on. Buy yours here!