Aston Villa's rivals know they are vulnerable - do not be surprised if Arsenal bid again for Ollie Watkins, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE... with three other stars also attracting interest
Aston Villa's rivals know they are vulnerable - do not be surprised if Arsenal bid again for Ollie Watkins, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE... with three other stars also attracting interest
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The timing of Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins shows that in the case of Aston Villa, football’s wealthiest clubs smell blood. Villa are furious that the Gunners made their offer for Watkins – a boyhood Arsenal fan – a matter of hours before a crucial Champions League clash against Celtic.
![[Arsenal tabled a bid for Ollie Watkins ahead of their Champions League clash against Celtic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/21/94645955-14339731-image-a-25_1738186046398.jpg)
It risked unsettling a key player in the build-up to a major fixture but the football world has long known Villa need to make a big sale this month, and that is why Arsenal were prepared to upset them like this. Villa are vulnerable. It may not look that way on the surface, as they look ahead to the Champions League knockout rounds and continue to perform strongly under Unai Emery.
![[Aston Villa were forced to sell Douglas Luiz to avoid a Premier League points deduction]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/22/94658257-14339731-image-a-26_1738189865297.jpg)
But without selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus last June, Villa risked a potential points deduction and meeting Premier League spending rules is likely to be a balancing act for them once again. Arsenal knew their timing would anger Villa yet still they went ahead, and they are confident that Watkins would be keen on the move.
![[Jhon Duran could join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for £63million before the window slams shut]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/22/94659279-14339731-image-a-29_1738191519008.jpg)
Both results and on-field progress may suggest otherwise, but Aston Villa are vulnerable. Arsenal tabled a bid for Ollie Watkins ahead of their Champions League clash against Celtic. Aston Villa were forced to sell Douglas Luiz to avoid a Premier League points deduction.
![[Watkins has a tendency to retreat into his shell under competition for places - a problem he would not face at Arsenal]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/01/94659289-14339731-Watkins_has_a_tendency_to_retreat_into_his_shell_under_competiti-a-2_1738201738867.jpg)
Given Watkins’ fellow striker Jhon Duran could join Saudi club Al-Nassr in the next 24 hours, it is highly unlikely that Villa would allow their other main goalscorer to leave before the January window closes on February 3. Indeed, Villa do not want to sell Watkins and planned to address the matter after they had faced Celtic.
![[Villa shocked the league last season to finish fourth - but this term they are finding that their dreams come with a cost]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/01/94659325-14339731-Villa_shocked_the_league_last_season_to_finish_fourth_but_this_t-a-1_1738201738863.jpg)
