As Arsenal continue their preparations for a pivotal summer transfer window, the hunt for a new striker remains a top priority. While Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško have emerged as the primary targets, The Athletic reports that the club is also keeping tabs on other potential options — with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins still under discussion.
The report suggests that Watkins, despite being less prominently linked than Gyökeres or Šeško, has not been discounted entirely by the Arsenal hierarchy. The 29-year-old England international enjoyed a standout 2024/25 season at Villa Park, helping Unai Emery’s side secure Champions League qualification with a string of impressive performances and a career-best goal tally. His Premier League experience, pressing ability, and positional versatility are traits Mikel Arteta reportedly admires.
However, as The Athletic notes, Arsenal’s interest in Watkins comes with a significant caveat: the price. Villa are under no pressure to sell one of their key players and would demand a premium fee — likely in excess of £70 million — to even consider parting ways with their talismanic forward. For a club like Arsenal, who are carefully balancing Financial Fair Play considerations with the need for smart squad building, such a figure would require serious deliberation.
By contrast, Arsenal’s top two targets — Gyökeres and Šeško — offer slightly different profiles and price points. Sporting CP’s Gyökeres is considered the more economical option in terms of salary structure and experience, though he still has a release clause of around €100 million (£85m). Šeško, currently at RB Leipzig, is younger and seen as a more long-term strategic signing. At 21, he aligns with the club’s vision of building a team with elite potential, though he could be the more expensive in terms of both transfer fee and future wage demands.
Still, Arsenal are not ruling out Watkins completely. His Premier League-proven pedigree and growing influence with England could tempt the club to explore a deal — particularly if other avenues become complicated. Watkins’ ability to drop deep, link play, and stretch defences would fit well within Arteta’s fluid system, which relies heavily on movement and technical intelligence in the final third.
Arsenal’s openness to various striker profiles also highlights the club’s flexibility going into the summer. They are not placing all their hopes on one player, but instead evaluating the market from multiple angles to ensure they land the right player — not just the most available one.
Ultimately, Watkins remains a name to watch. While price concerns persist, Arsenal have proven in recent windows that they are willing to invest heavily when the right opportunity presents itself. Should Villa soften their stance or the Gunners shift priorities due to complications with Gyökeres or Šeško, Watkins could become a more realistic option.
For now, Arsenal’s striker shortlist remains open-ended — but the interest in Ollie Watkins, even if on the periphery, signals the club’s determination to upgrade their attacking options with quality and purpose.
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