Arsenal are reportedly hoping to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa during the January transfer window.
Arsenal are looking to bring in attacking reinforcements, and they have identified 27-year-old England international Ollie Watkins as a potential target according to Fichajes.
Watkins has been one of the best strikers in the Premier League over the past year, and he could prove to be a quality acquisition for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus is the only reliable striker at the club right now, and Mikel Arteta needs to add more depth and quality to his attacking unit in order to match up to the likes of Manchester City.
Watkins scored 16 goals across all competitions last season, and he picked up six assists along the way as well. The striker has started the current season in impressive form as well, scoring seven goals and picking up four assists across 13 matches. He was linked with a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window as well.
The opportunity to move to Arsenal will be an attractive option for the player, and he could be tempted. It remains to be seen whether the Gunners come forward with an official bid to sign the 27-year-old when the transfer window opens in January.
Aston Villa are looking to put together a formidable squad capable of competing in Europe every season, and they will not want to sell one of the best players. In addition, Arsenal spent a significant sum of money during the summer transfer window. So, it is fair to assume that they will not be able to afford Watkins unless there is a big sale in January.
Aston Villa will look to demand the premium for their prized prospect, and the 27-year-old England international will cost a fortune. He has a contract with the West Midlands club until the summer of 2028. So, Aston Villa are under no pressure to cash in on him any time soon.
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can convince them to change their stance with a lucrative proposal in January. A move to Arsenal would allow the 27-year-old to showcase his qualities at a higher level and he would get to compete in the UEFA Champions League as well. But they are also in contention to sign another Premier League striker in Ivan Toney.
