Aston Villa will not entertain any offers to sell 28-year-old English international Ollie Watkins, a target for Chelsea.
According to a report by Football Insider, Ollie Watkins is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues hoped to seal a part-exchange deal to sign the English international in the summer transfer window. However, Aston Villa will not entertain any offers to part ways with him, even though they value him at around £70-80 million.
The rise and rise of Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins has blossomed into one of the best strikers in the Premier League since joining Aston Villa from Brentford in September 2020. The Englishman experienced some teething problems at Villa Park before becoming the undisputed first-choice striker for the West Midlands outfit.
The 28-year-old enjoyed an incredible 2023/24 campaign, amassing 27 goals and 13 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. Watkins followed that up with an impressive campaign with England at UEFA Euro 2024, even though he did not start a single game for the Three Lions.
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins’s exploits for his club and country have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the English international, with Chelsea among his prospective suitors in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea interested in Watkins
Chelsea’s interest in Ollie Watkins is understandable. The Blues have been scouring the market for a striker heading into the summer transfer window after Nicolas Jackson struggled to make his mark for the West London club in the 2023/24 season. So, several candidates have emerged on Chelsea’s radar, with Watkins being a viable target.
Recent reports claimed that Chelsea deployed Cole Palmer to urge Watkins to move from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window. However, a deal will not materialise, with the West Midlands club not ready to cash in on him. Meanwhile, the Villans have slapped a price tag of £70-80 million on their attacking mainstay.
So, Chelsea must look elsewhere to sign a striker in the summer transfer window, even though it is unclear if they are open to coughing up £70-80 million to sign him. However, financial implications might play a part, with Aston Villa likely to keep hold of the 28-year-old English international.
