Aston Villa is not willing to sell Ollie Watkins to Arsenal with Jhon 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 this window.
Duran has completed a medically completed in London and will fly to Saudi Arabia by the weekend, leaving 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.”
Arsenal -Manager Mikel Arteta was asked for Watkins after the victory on his side of Girona, but did not give away much. He said: “I can't talk about that. My confidence is that we have a great club with people who always work to try to improve.
“Let's see what happens.”
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 Duran's approaching departure means that he now expects him to stay with Villa.
The focus of Arsenal changed in this window as soon as the severity of the ACL injury of Gabriel Jesus became clear and they still want to sign a new attacker.
WATKINS, known as an Arsenal fan, is this season the ninth Top Gointcorer of the Premier League with 10 goals – including Villas Equalizer in Arsenal earlier this month.
The 29-year-old has five goals in 18 games for England, including the winner in the semi-final victory of last season 2024 against the Netherlands.
When Watkins admitted that he dreamed of Arsenal Move …
When Watkins was a Brentford striker in the championship, he was asked in March 2020 if he would like to become a member of his boy's club Arsenal and admitted that it was “the dream” to prove to be with the Emirates.
“Thierry Henry, like a fan of Arsenal, was incredible to watch. He was growing up my idol,” he told Sports Gazette.
“The dream is to play for Arsenal one day, but it is a long recording. My family supports them and things like that, but that is the long term.”
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