Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits he is ‘concerned’ about Ollie Watkins’ contract situation as Arsenal reportedly sniff around the Premier League frontman.
Ollie Watkins’ first goal of the season was certainly a long time in coming. With only one in his last 12 Premier League outings, the relief was palpable was Aston Villa’s number 11 slotted past Robert Sanchez at the second attempt, the Midland giants recording successive wins over Chelsea for the first time this Century.
But with less than two years left on his contract – and with Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly keeping a very close eye on the situation – Emery is more than aware of a potential saga bubbling beneath the surface at Villa Park.
Aston Villa want to keep Arsenal target Ollie Watkins
“I am concerned about it (the contract),” Emery tells Birmingham World ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third round clash with Everton.
“We are working on it. We are in touch, we are talking.”
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal’s technical director, Edu Gaspar, has held talks with Paulo Vernazza, Watkins’ agent. The late-blooming, £60 million-rated forward – a converted winger who made his name in the EFL with Exeter City and Brentford – reportedly wants a five-year deal worth around £150,000-a-week.
But, in a situation reminiscent of Wilfried Zaha’s a few years back, the chance to pull on that iconic red and white shirt may be an opportunity Watkins is reluctant to pass up, the boyhood Gunners fanatic admitting back in 2020 that playing for Arsenal was his ‘dream’.
Watkins scored 15 Premier League goals last season. A new centre-forward could be decisive in taking Arsenal to the next level; neither Gabriel Jesus nor Eddie Nketiah doing much to suggest they can help hound down Manchester City in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
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“Watkins in training every day, his commitment is very high. He wants to work and he wants to help the team. When he scores, we’re happy because he always deserves to score,” Emery adds.
“He’s trying to get his objective, his target, through the team. The first is to win and the second is to score.”
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