REVEALED: Ollie Watkins reaction as Arsenal launch HUGE late bid

Robin Bairner

Updated: 3 Feb 2025 16:22 GMT
4 min read

Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Ollie Watkins has been given late hope of completing his dream move to Arsenal, having seen Aston Villa knock back the Gunners’ first bid.

Article continues under the video

Watkins is well known to have grown up an Arsenal supporter, and it is believed that his dream is to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY LIVE! All the latest transfers, rumours and gossip

STATS

Ollie Watkins

F (C)

Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins

F (C)

Aston Villa

24

Games
10

Goals
5

Assists

The Emirates side offered their Premier League rivals €48 million (£40m) for the England striker but unsurprisingly saw it rejected by Villa, who had an offer nearly twice that size on the table for Jhon Duran. In the end, the Colombia international left to sign for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League for €80m.

While it has been suggested that Watkins will be pleased to see the back of Duran at Villa Park, TeamTalk has reported on his state of mind after seeing the prospect of turning out for Arsenal dashed.

Watkins is said to be “absolutely gutted” about the Gunners’ bid being rejected. He is also still open to a transfer.

He may get that chance, with The Independent reporting that the Gunners are ready to bid €72m (£60m) for the player.

While Arteta’s side were rather miserly with their first offer, this bid would stand a far greater chance of being accepted.

Watkins’ Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €65.8m – close to €20m more than was being offered to Villa first time around but very much in the ballpark of Arsenal’s second offer.

A deal may hinge on whether Unai Emery feels that Marcus Rashford can play through the middle or whether there is another option Aston Villa can rush in before the deadline.

Watkins’ one chance gone?

Should Arsenal fail in their second bid, there is no guarantee this is a transfer that they will revisit in the summer – and that is something that Watkins is acutely aware of.

Arteta is known to admire other forward players, with RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko liable to be a major target for Arsenal while Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is another the Spaniard is likely to chase.

Little wonder, then, that Watkins is so concerned at seeing this chance slip away.