Unai Emery has confirmed Ollie Watkins is “happy” to remain at Aston Villa after the membership rejected a bid from Arsenal for the striker.
Arsenal have had a bid for Watkins knocked again and, together with his fellow striker Jhon Duran poised to maneuver to Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr, Villa is not going to permit the England worldwide to additionally depart earlier than Monday evening’s deadline.
Watkins began and scored within the latest 4-2 win in opposition to Celtic within the Champions League on Wednesday night, the place the ahead tapped the badge after celebrating his eleventh aim of the season throughout all competitions in entrance of the Holte Finish.
“Yes, he is happy to stay. We asked him how he is feeling and he is happy here,” Emery mentioned when requested about Watkins’ future forward of the sport in opposition to Wolves, stay on Saturday Night time Soccer.
“The dedication of Watkins is de facto an enormous dedication to defend Aston Villa.
“He appreciates how Aston Villa was always supporting him and helping him. Also, when we joined two years ago, how we always tried to get the best of him.”
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Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped on Arsenal’s reported curiosity of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and mentioned he is not going to talk about particulars of any particular person.
Emery: Curiosity in our gamers is sweet information
As he did after the win in opposition to Celtic, Emery has insisted that different golf equipment taking an curiosity in his gamers is an efficient factor reasonably than a destructive so near the tip of the window.
“When some groups are calling us being within the gamers, it’s good for us and the gamers.
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“Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here and commit to Aston Villa and compete for our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins.
“Now we’d like him, like he wanted Aston Villa within the final years. The dialog we’re having normally is about how he’s all the time adapting to each circumstance.”
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Talking in 2020, whereas at Brentford, Ollie Watkins mentioned his dream as a Gunners fan can be to at some point play for Arsenal.
Jhon Duran edges nearer to Villa exit
Newest from Sky Sports activities Information’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
Villa striker Jhon Duran has accomplished his Al Nassr medical and is ready to fly to Saudi Arabia.
Al Nassr are understood to be paying simply over £64m (€77m) plus bonuses for the 21-year-old. This deal is seen for instance of a brand new technique to develop the Saudi Professional League.
The Saudis are actually centered on singing younger, growing gamers. They don’t need to be considered a retirement house for ageing superstars.
Villa is not going to half methods with Duran AND Watkins
Newest from Sky Sports activities Information’ Dharmesh Sheth and Lyall Thomas:
Villa should not ready to promote Watkins to Arsenal with Duran on the verge of signing for Al Nassr.
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Sky Sports activities’ Kaveh Solhekol and Dharmesh Sheth present the newest updates on Arsenal’s bid to signal Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal held talks with Villa over the potential sale of Watkins earlier this week – however Villa don’t need to promote each strikers in the identical window.
Duran has accomplished a medical in London and is then on account of fly to Saudi Arabia by the weekend, leaving Watkins the one recognised centre-forward on the membership.
Villa have been angered hours earlier than their Champions League conflict at house to Celtic on Wednesday as stories of Arsenal’s talks for Watkins emerged.
Villa boss Unai Emery was requested about it after the 4-2 win at Villa Park and mentioned: “I do not need (him to go away).
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery remained coy on whether or not strikers Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins may each head for the exit door at Villa Park, stating that the curiosity within the pair is barely ‘excellent news’ for the membership.
“It is good news to have an offer from other clubs, or interest, it is good. But we want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.
“Each participant will be out there in case it’s good for the membership, the participant and the group – however to get this deal in fact we’re going to be very demanding as properly and Watkins is our striker.”
The talks for Watkins are believed to have began whereas there was nonetheless some uncertainty about Duran’s departure.
It isn’t clear who initiated contact, however one supply has informed Sky Sports activities Information that the prospect to signal Watkins was proposed to Arsenal.
Arsenal worth him at £40m – however the supply claimed £60m was Villa’s valuation – and the sensation is any potential deal would have required Villa to scale back their valuation.
Arsenal’s long-term curiosity in Watkins stays, however the imminent departure of Duran means he’s now anticipated to remain on this window.
