Arsenal Prepare Improved Offer for 'Angry' Aston Villa Over Ollie Watkins

Arsenal’s Pursuit of Ollie Watkins Heats Up

Arsenal are reportedly preparing an improved bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as they push for a late January transfer window signing.

The Gunners initially saw a £60m bid for the 29-year-old forward rejected on Wednesday, with Villa expressing frustration over the timing of Arsenal’s approach. However, Mikel Arteta’s side remains determined to secure Watkins and are expected to return with a higher offer, according to the Daily Mail.

Aston Villa’s Firm Stance on Watkins

Villa manager Unai Emery, a former Arsenal boss, has made it clear that he wants to keep his star striker:

“I don’t want [Watkins to leave]. It is good news to have an offer from other clubs, or interest. But we want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.”

Despite Villa’s strong resistance, Emery acknowledged that every player has a price:

“Every player can be in the market in case it is good for the club, the player, and the team. But to get this deal done, of course, we are going to be very demanding as well. Watkins is our striker.”

Will Arsenal Secure Watkins Before the Window Closes?

Adding fuel to the speculation, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has reported that Aston Villa remain determined to reject Arsenal’s improved offer.

The club’s reluctance to part ways with Watkins is also influenced by the potential departure of his understudy, Jhon Duran. The 21-year-old striker has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr in a deal reportedly worth €77m (£64m) plus add-ons.

With Arsenal pushing hard for reinforcements, the big question remains: Will Villa hold their ground, or will the Gunners succeed in their last-minute bid to sign Watkins?