Unai Emery has confirmed that Ollie Watkins is “happy” to stay in Aston Villa after the club has rejected an Arsenal bid for rush.
Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday that Arsenal had an offer for Watkins that returned and, with his colleague -striker Jhon Duran ready to move to the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, will not allow Villa the English international to leave for The deadline of Monday evening.
Watkins started and scored in the recent 4-2 victory against Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, where the attacker tapped De Badge after celebrating his 11th goal of the season about all the matches for the Holte end.
“Yes, he is happy to stay. We asked him how he feels and he is happy here,” Emery said when he was asked about the future of Watkins prior to the match against Wolves, live on Saturday Night Football.
“The dedication of Watkins is really a huge dedication to defend Aston Villa.
“He appreciates how Aston Villa always supported him and helped him. Even when we met two years ago, how we always tried to get the best of him.”
Emery: Interest in our players is good news
As he did after the victory against Celtic, Emery has insisted that other clubs are interested in his players a good thing instead of a negative that is so close to the end of the window.
“When some teams call us in the players, it's good for us and the players.
“Some players prefer to leave and some players accept here to stay and commit to Aston Villa and compete for our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins.
“Now we need him, as if he needed Aston Villa in recent years. The conversation we have is usually about how he always adapts to every circumstance.”
Jhon Duran Randen closer to Villa Exit
Newest of the main reporter of Sky Sports News Kaveh Solhekol:
Villa -striker Jhon Duran has already completed his already Nassr Medical and will fly to Saudi Arabia.
Al Nassr is deemed to pay just over £ 64 million (€ 77 million) plus bonuses for the 21-year-old. This deal is seen as an example of a new strategy to develop the Saudi Pro League.
The Saudis are now focused on singing young, developing players. They do not want to be considered a pension home for aging superstars.
Villa will not say goodbye to Duran and Watkins
Latest of Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth and Lyall Thomas:
Villa is not willing to sell Watsenal with Duran at the point to sign for Al Nassr.
Earlier this week, Arsenal held conversations with Villa about the potential sale of Watkins – but Villa does not want to sell both strikers in the same window.
Duran has completed a medically completed in London and will then fly to Saudi Arabia by the weekend, giving Watkins the only recognized Center-Forward at the club.
Villa was furious hours before their Champions League collision was imposed at home on Celtic on Wednesday when the reports about Arsenal's conversations for Watkins emerged.
Villa boss Unai Emery was asked about it after the 4-2 victory in Villa Park and said: “I don't want to (him to leave).
“It is good news to have an offer from other clubs, or interest, it is good. But we want to keep our sporting objective by the players we have in the team.
“Every player can be on the market in case he is good for the club, the player and the team – but to get this deal we will of course also be very demanding and Watkins is our striker.”
The conversations for Watkins are supposed to have started while there was still some uncertainty about Duran's departure.
It is not clear who initiated contact, but one source has told Sky Sports News that the chance to sign Watkins was presented to Arsenal.
Arsenal appreciated him at £ 40 million – but the source claimed that £ 60 million was the appreciation of Villa – and the feeling is that every potential deal Villa would need to reduce their appreciation.
Arsenal's long -term interest in Watkins continues to exist, but the approaching departure of Duran means that he now expects him to stay in this window.
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