Arsenal are reportedly preparing to renew their interest in Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins this summer, following a failed bid in January. This insight comes from Mick Brown, a former scout for Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Tottenham, who shared his thoughts during an exclusive interview with Football Insider. Brown revealed that Villa were not open to negotiations regarding Watkins’ departure in January, particularly after they had recently transferred Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr, which rendered a sale of Watkins impractical at that time.
The Gunners had submitted a late £60 million offer for Watkins, which was swiftly dismissed by Villa. However, with the summer transfer window on the horizon, there is a growing belief that Aston Villa might be more receptive to discussions. This would afford Villa the necessary time to identify and secure a replacement, potentially allowing them to reinvest the proceeds into their squad.
Watkins has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time, as the club views him as a viable alternative to Kai Havertz, given their contrasting styles of play. The England international is renowned for his directness, ability to make penetrating runs behind defenders, and versatility to drift wide—attributes that would significantly enhance Arsenal's attacking dynamics.
While Arsenal are monitoring multiple strikers, there is an increasing sentiment within the club that a deal for Watkins could materialise this summer if they choose to reignite their interest. Brown highlighted that Arsenal aims to leverage the emotional connection Watkins has as a lifelong Arsenal supporter to persuade him to make the switch.
Brown, who played a pivotal role in facilitating Watkins' move to Villa Park in 2020, underscored the striker’s compatibility with Arsenal's requirements. He stated, “I’m a huge fan of Ollie Watkins. I kept on about getting him when I was at Villa and eventually they made it happen.” He elaborated on Watkins’ playing style, noting, “One of the reasons for that is he’s happy to make runs in behind. There are too many strikers now who want the ball to feet and drop into midfield. But Watkins likes to spin in behind, drift out wide and he’s very direct with his play.” Brown emphasised that this distinctive style would provide Arsenal with a different option compared to Havertz.
Villa’s decision to reject the January bid was influenced by their recent loss of Duran, which made it impractical for them to part with both key forwards simultaneously. “And the timing of it as well, there was no way that bid would’ve been accepted at that stage,” Brown asserted. He remains optimistic that Arsenal will revisit the situation in the summer, stating, “I do think, though, they’ll revisit the move in the summer because he is a player Arsenal want and one they’ve been looking at for a long time.”
Brown anticipates that Villa will be more willing to entertain offers for Watkins during the summer transfer window, allowing them the necessary time to secure a suitable replacement.
In related developments, Arsenal are reportedly in a strong position to outpace Manchester City in securing new signings, further underpinning their ambitions for the upcoming season. This potential pursuit of Watkins not only highlights Arsenal's strategic planning but also reflects their commitment to enhancing their squad as they aim for greater success in the Premier League.