Forget Ollie Watkins, Arsenal handed free run at another striker transfer after £64m deal

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Arsenal’s chances of signing Ollie Watkins look to be diminishing after news that fellow Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is set to sign for Al Nassr.

Arsenal had a £60m bid rejected for Watkins before their Champions League clash with Girona and since then, Villa have accepted a deal worth around £64m for Colombian striker Duran.

Watkins is keen to join Arsenal having supported the club as a young boy however, Aston Villa are set to reject any new approaches from Arsenal and will not want to lose both of their strikers.

In amongst the transfer chaos, another opportunity to strengthen the Gunners attack may have presented itself and it is one that Mikel Arteta cannot afford to ignore.

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

Arsenal could have a free run at signing Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen

Transfers often fall like pieces in a jigsaw and this could be the case with Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

Boniface was set to join Saudi side Al Nassr before the club changed their mind and opted to sign Villa’s Jhon Duran instead. Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal for the Nigerian striker was off.

It had been reported that a deal for Boniface had been agreed for around £50m with the Saudi club and Leverkusen before opting for Duran.

Boniface has scored seven goals already this season despite missing a large chunk of the season with a hamstring injury. A powerful, physical presence who knows where the goal is and whose price has been made public, he is surely an option that should capture Arsenal’s eye.

Boniface would add a different dimension to Arsenal’s attack

The Nigerian striker burst into the footballing spotlight last season during Leverkusen’s incredible title-winning campaign, where he made 23 goal contributions and was a key part of the club’s success.

Pace, power and a goal threat, Boniface would certainly add something different to Arteta’s attacking options and he outperforms Kai Havertz this season in a number of different areas.

The Leverkusen man can stretch a defence with his powerful running and ball carrying and for a team that produces as many quality crosses as Arsenal, his aerial ability stands out as a potential weapon.

Arsenal know they need to act in the market and in Victor Boniface, the Gunners would be getting a real talent, who knows how to find the back of the net.