Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have finally made a decision on the future of their star striker Ollie Watkins amidst interest from Liverpool.
According to a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa are ready to sanction the departure of Ollie Watkins amid interest from rivals Liverpool, as they look to raise funds and push through another important signing.
Watkins has been a part of the Villa setup since 2020. He made a name for himself at Brentford before making the switch and hasn’t looked back since. The 29-year-old has been a key figure in their team over the years and has done wonders for them.
The English international has been one of their standout performers this season. He has been involved in a total of 48 matches and has contributed towards 29 goals (16 goals, 13 assists). While his performances have been top notch and he still has three years left on his deal, there has been a lot of talk about his future of late.
Liverpool are interested in Watkins
Liverpool are one of the clubs that are keen on signing the 29-year-old. The Reds will be in the market for a new striker in the summer as Arne Slot is not happy with the output of his current forwards. With Darwin Nunez expected to be on the move, the Dutch manager wants to bring in a proven goal scorer.
While Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is their top target for the summer, they are aware of the fact that signing him from their rivals won’t be easy. As a result, they are looking at Watkins as an ideal alternative.
The English striker has been a consistent performer in the English top flight and it won’t take him long to settle at Liverpool. Meanwhile, Villa seems to have made a decision on the future of their star forward.
Villa to sell Watkins to fund Rashford move
They are ready to cash in on him amid interest from the Merseyside club, exploring the possibility of raising around £50–60 million from his sale to fund a permanent move for Marcus Rashford. The English international joined them on loan in the winter window after falling out with Ruben Amorim.
He has been doing wonders for Emery’s team and since they have a £40 million buy option, Villa are looking to trigger it after the end of his loan deal.
