Arsenal has a significant bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa | Transfer window

Arsenal has had a significant bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa after identifying the English striker as a priority goal.

Arsenal is believed to have done the procedure last week, but Villa has no desire to sell Watkins. Villa is also stiffened for a bid from al-nassr for Jhon Durán and could reluctantly sell Colombia forward if they receive about £ 80m.

Saudi -Pro League club is assumed to weigh up whether they need to spend big on Durán, after agreeing an agreement to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface. Villa, hosting Celtic in the Champions League Wednesday, hoping to automatically qualify for the last 16, will not entertain both Durán and Watkins in this window.

It’s back to see if Arsenal returns with another bid for Watkins. Their manager, Mikel Arteta, has not hidden his desire to strengthen his attack after injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. “Ideally, we need help,” Arteta said last week. “We were already short, and now we’re even shorter. The team still handles it. “

Watkins has scored 10 goals in 31 appearances for Villa this season, including the equalization in their recent 2-2 draw at Arsenal. The 29-year-old, who signed from Brentford five years ago, was a Boyhood Arsenal fan. “It’s the dream to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said in 2020. He also scored in last season’s 2-0 win in the Emirates, which was Arsenal’s only defeat under Run-in, and they felt many felt them The title

Watkins is believed to be Unai Emery’s first -choice attack despite Durán’s productive form, especially from the bench, this season. Watkins has three years on his contract, and Durán signed a new deal that runs until 2030 towards the end of last year.

Villa is angry at the time of the bid that arises, with this the second Champions League game derailed by transfer noise around one of their valued assets. West Ham’s bid for Durán came on the threshold of Villa’s defeat in Monaco last week.