Why Arsenal signing Ollie Watkins is unlikely

Arsenal have made a late attempt in the January transfer window to sign Ollie Watkins, but Jhon Duran's impending departure means Aston Villa almost certainly won't let Watkins leave.

The Gunners' need for attacking reinforcements has long been apparent. Interest in Matheus Cunha surfaced at the start of the month before Benjamin Sesko became the talk of the town. Neither Wolves nor RB Leipzig want to part ways with their respective prized assets midway through the season, however.

We're approaching the final few days of the window and Arsenal are yet to make a move. With Bukayo Saka out until March (at the earliest) and Gabriel Jesus poised to miss the bulk of 2025, the board risks leaving Mikel Arteta short as the Spaniard aims to compete on multiple fronts during the second half of the season.

Arsenal remain in the Premier League title race and have secured safe passage into the Champions League round of 16. They somehow still have the chance to do something quite special this term, and a late pivot to Watkins has manifested the club's desperation.

Why Arsenal signing Ollie Watkins is unlikely

News of the club's opening £60m bid for the Villa strike broke on Wednesday, just hours before the final round of Champions League league phase fixtures. The Villans weren't said to be best pleased regarding the timing of Arsenal's bid as they prepared to take on Celtic that evening and rebuffed the north Londoners' initial advance.

There have since been reports that Arsenal will come again before the transfer deadline, but such efforts are likely to be futile given Duran's situation. The enigmatic Colombian is poised to join Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in a €77m deal and David Ornstein is among the sources to confirm the passing of the striker's medical in London ahead of his move.

Ornstein added that Villa do not want to sell other 'key men' before the deadline.

Speaking after Villa's 4-2 win on Wednesday night, during which Watkins scored, Unai Emery commented (via Charles Watts): "I don't want [to sell Watkins]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.

"Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker."

Given the timing, I just don't see Villa letting Watkins go. Had Duran remained at Villa Park, Arsenal may have had a chance. It'd surely take an obscene figure to persuade the Villans, who've already shunned a pretty hefty £60m. If Watkins was a man the Gunners were/are keen on, why did they leave it this late to make a move?

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