Arne Slot’s Liverpool have been sent a £100 million warning from Gabriel Agbonlahor ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Liverpool head into the summer off-season with a new manager for the first time in nearly a decade after Jurgen Klopp made the difficult decision to leave Anfield.
Under Klopp, Liverpool won one Premier League title under the German as well as the Champions League trophy back in 2019, after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.
Things will look very different at Anfield and new players are bound to be targeted with a new centre-forward potentially on the list of targets.
Watkins linked
HITC understands that Liverpool are indeed one of the clubs interested in Ollie Watkins, whilst The Sun claims Unai Emery’s Villa are braced for interest in their forward, following the Englishman’s outstanding campaign with 19 goals and 13 assists to his name in the league.
Liverpool are interested in the striker, whilst HITC has reported that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are some of the other clubs keeping tabs on the English forward.
Villa sources, meanwhile, insist that they are not planning on selling one of their big names this summer. This comes after Villa, under Emery, achieved Champions League football.
Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking on talkSPORT, has delivered a warning to any side who could potentially be interested in the former Brentford forward.
“Not worried one bit,” the Villa icon said when asked about interest in Watkins. “You’re going to hear these rumours because of how well he’s done.
“He’s ‘Mr Reliable’ and his injury record is outstanding. He doesn’t get injured. He gets out there, no matter what. 19 Premier League goals last season… outstanding. No penalties. His finishing has got so clinical.
“In October, he signed a five-year deal until 2028. Aston Villa have to sell. But I would rather sell shares than give Watkins to anyone. He’s going to cost you £100m – and I don’t think they would sell him for £100m.
Watkins future
Interest in Watkins is certainly genuine but it remains to be seen if any club will test Villa, who of course have the allure of Champions League football, whilst United and Chelsea do not.
With the prospect of Champions League football awaiting Watkins next season, perhaps the 28-year-old will choose to remain at Aston Villa this summer.
With Emery bringing the best out of the English forward, staying where he is, for one more season, would be the wise decision to make.
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