Arsenal could still complete £40,000,000 transfer for Ollie Watkins, but only on one condition

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Arsenal have a number of different strikers on their transfer wishlist ahead of the summer window.

The Gunners are eager to find someone who can provide cover and competition for Kai Havertz, with a view to completely replacing the German in the mid-term.

Alexander Isak is the dream signing, while the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike are also options Andrea Berta is exploring.

However, the North London outfit could yet go in a different direction and return for a star they were in for in January.

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Arsenal could still sign Ollie Watkins this summer

It’s well-documented that Arsenal tried to sign Ollie Watkins in January.

The Gunners were depleted in forward areas due to injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, and were desperately looking for a reinforcement in their forward line.

However, Aston Villa were reportedly demanding around £60 million for the 29-year-old, and Arsenal weren’t willing to meet this price.

Instead, the North Londoners made a £40 million bid, which was swiftly rejected by the West Midlands club.

According to the Athletic, Berta ‘remains informed’ on Watkins and the club could yet pivot from their primary targets, Sesko and Gyokeres, and sign the Villa striker in the summer.

However, Arsenal were reticent to pay over £40 million for the England international in January, and any potential deal would have to fall below this value.

The Gunners aren’t willing to splash in excess of that price point on a player who turns 30 in December.

Arsenal shouldn’t sign Ollie Watkins this summer

Watkins is an Arsenal fan, which certainly makes the deal more attractive to the Gunners faithful from a sentimental point of view.

However, the former Brentford man has shown signs of decline in the second half of this season, with Unai Emery often favouring Marcus Rashford from the start instead.

While he’s still scored 17 goals across all competitions this season, and would likely be capable of netting plenty again next campaign, the boat has sailed for Watkins.

At best, he gives you one or two more seasons of elite production, before Arsenal are stuck with an ageing centre-forward again, who’ll need replacing.

The deal simply makes no sense from this standpoint, and Arsenal are better off sourcing a young striker who can be in their prime with the rest of the squad over the next three to four years.