Aston Villa reveal fresh Ollie Watkins transfer stance as Arsenal consider new approach

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Arsenal are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements after they safely secured their passage into the last-16 of the Champions League.

Goals from Jorginho and a stunner from Ethan Nwaneri gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Girona but all of the focus pre-match was about potential transfer activity at the club.

Arsenal have had a £60m bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa and the club are unhappy at the timing of the bid just before a crucial Champions League tie.

Watkins want to move to Arsenal but it seems that other factors out of his and Arsenal’s control may affect the deal with a fresh update from Fabrizio Romano on the situation.

READ MORE: Three winners and four losers from Arsenal clash with Girona as Champions League qualification confirmed

Fabrizio Romano claims any new Arsenal bid will be rejected by Aston Villa

Speaking via his X account, Romano has given an update on Aston Villa’s stance over the sale of striker Ollie Watkins.

Romano has claimed that Villa are determined to reject any new approaches for the England striker and re-iterated their displeasure at the timing of the bid from the Gunners.

Unai Emery doesn’t want Watkins to be sold and there is an expectation that Colombian forward Jhon Duran will depart Villa Park with a move to Al Nassr close to completion.

Duran is expected to complete a medical in London ahead of his proposed move to Saudi Arabia, meaning that the likelihood of Aston Villa selling both of their strikers is extremely low.

Ollie Watkins played and scored for Aston Villa in the Champions League

Aston Villa named Ollie Watkins in their starting line up for their crucial Champions League clash with Celtic just hours after news of the bid broke.

Watkins scored in a 4-2 victory for the Premier League side but did also have a rather embarrassing moment from the penalty spot as he slipped upon taking the spot kick.

With Duran’s departure and Villa’s reluctance to sell Watkins, it seems that this may be a difficult deal for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal to pursue.

It does prove however, that the club are certainly going to be active in these last few days of the window and know exactly what they need to improve the squad for the remainder of the season.