Arsenal are looking for a new striker this summer, and most of the chat has been around two specific names recently.
Indeed, Benjamin Sesko has been strongly linked to Arsenal, while Viktor Gyokeres is a key Arsenal target too.
However, there’s also another striker who remains on Arsenal’s radar, Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal bid for Watkins in January, and there have been murmurs that Watkins is Arsenal’s plan C if they can’t get Gyokeres or Sesko.
Speaking to The Athletic, David Ornstein has been discussing Watkins’ situation, and he shared an update on what he’s been told.
Ollie Watkins celebrating after scoring a goal for Aston Villa
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
What David Ornstein has been told about Ollie Watkins
Ornstein shared an update on Watkins’ situation, and it’s bad news for Arsenal.
Indeed, the journalist says that he’s had some conversations with Aston Villa about the striker and it’s been made clear that the Villans do not have any intention of selling the England star.
“Ollie Watkins is among those on Manchester United’s recruitment list. I would be surprised if he wasn’t on recruitment lists at top clubs, he’s such a good striker and a good lad,” Ornstein said.
“They have made some enquiries with his camp. These are spinning plates, and that’s a situation they’re attentive to.
“From my conversations with Villa, they have no intentions of parting with Ollie Watkins, they want him to play up front for them, he’s on the list of a club like Arsenal. Watkins is definitely an interesting case for the market, he’s an older age, but he has a great physical profile, a strong record, he delivers and he’s Premier League ready.”
Villa don’t want to sell Watkins, and while Watkins is open to joining Arsenal, he may not be too cut up about the idea of staying at Villa Park.
Indeed, Watkins has had a great time of it under Unai Emery, and when he signed his last Aston Villa contract he made it very clear how happy he was at the club, via Aston Villa’s website.
“I’m really happy,” he said.
“I feel like this is the best place for me to play my football; I’ve still got a lot to achieve here.”
“I feel like I’ve had a really good connection with the fans since I’ve come here. From day one they’ve been really good with me; we’ve had highs and lows but that’s football.
“You can see the direction of the club, and I want to be a part of that.”
Villa only narrowly missed out on Champions League football last season, and there are certainly worse places for Watkins to be playing his football next year than Villa Park.