Sporting director confirms Arsenal actually tried to sign £60m striker before Viktor Gyokeres

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Arsenal were linked with a number of strikers before they signed Viktor Gyokeres.

The Gunners had been in need of a prolific goalscorer for years, and in every window, Mikel Arteta was rumoured to be keen on a few number nines.

Benjamin Sesko was the most popular name, while the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Jhon Duran and even Alvaro Morata were linked with a move to the Emirates.

Another striker Arsenal had an interest in was Ollie Watkins, and that has now been confirmed.

Monchi confirms Arsenal’s interest in Ollie Watkins in January

Arsenal were in desperate need of a new striker in January.

The Gunners had lost Bukayo Saka to injury, and the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli also suffered issues soon after.

In the final days of the winter window, news emerged that Arsenal were interested in signing Watkins from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Gooners would’ve taken the Englishman at the time, but Aston Villa’s £60 million demand for Watkins scuppered any potential deal.

Now, Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, popularly known as Monchi, who was the sporting director of Aston Villa at the time, has revealed that Arsenal’s interest in the striker was indeed genuine.

He told Flashscore: “There was real interest in Watkins from Arsenal in the January transfer window. In the summer market, there had been no formal offer.

“In almost three months of the summer, because the markets are starting earlier and earlier, there are rumours, but not only for Ollie.

“Also for Morgan Rogers, for Matty Cash, for Konsa, for McGinn, for everyone, because in such an extensive market, in a squad with such good players and who also come from two magnificent seasons, there are rumours, but there were no formal offers.”

Ollie Watkins vs Viktor Gyokeres stats compared in 2025/26

Six months after missing out on Watkins, Arsenal struck a deal with Sporting CP to sign Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede had two incredible seasons in Portugal. He was the most prolific striker in Europe in that period, scoring 97 goals in 102 games.

Tony Adams wanted Arsenal to sign Watkins instead of Gyokeres in the summer, but Arteta’s decision is proving to be the right one.

Gyokeres has scored two more goals for Arsenal than Watkins has for Villa so far this season, and the Gunners’ star has looked a lot better too.

The 27-year-old is getting better in every game, and once he fully adapts to the Premier League, we are convinced that he will score plenty of goals.

Watkins would’ve been a good addition in January because of Arsenal’s injury issues, but Gyokeres is the right man for the North Londoners now.