The truth about Arsenal's transfer window: The four forwards they targeted, what really happened with Ollie Watkins and the two big-money stars most likely to sign this summer Now the dust has settled from Arsenal’s unsuccessful efforts to sign a new forward in January, Mail Sport can provide some rationale.
However, it is our understanding that Arsenal were offered encouragement during the closing stages of the window that Villa were open to selling Watkins or Jhon Duran ahead of the deadline as the Midlands club looked to alleviate some of the pressures created by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.
But doing so would have future consequences towards a potential move for a player who could easily emerge as Arsenal’s most realistic striker target of the summer.
He was hitting form before disaster struck, but it was only when his ACL injury was confirmed did Arsenal narrow their January business to the recruitment of a striker.
Arsenal's recruitment team pride themselves on talent identification - a system that has seen some request in recent seasons.
