Unai Emery breaks silence on shock Arsenal bid for Ollie Watkins as Aston Villa boss offers Jhon Duran transfer update after Champions League win
Unai Emery breaks silence on shock Arsenal bid for Ollie Watkins as Aston Villa boss offers Jhon Duran transfer update after Champions League win
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Unai Emery is determined to keep Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa this month as the club prepare to sell Jhon Duran. Villa’s 4-2 win over Celtic sent them into the last 16 of the Champions League but the day was clouded by uncertainty over the futures of the club’s two forwards.
![[Mikel Arteta's side submitted a bid for the striker just hours before the Champions League win]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/23/94657595-0-image-a-116_1738194240043.jpg)
Emery confirmed Duran is likely to move to Al Nassr for about £63million and is set to have a medical in London on Thursday. But Villa were blindsided by a bid from Arsenal for Watkins hours before kick-off. Though Emery accepts every player has his price, he has no wish to sell Watkins.
![[Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan and has 10 goals for Villa in all competitions this campaign]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/00/94661123-14340421-image-a-9_1738197328292.jpg)
‘I don’t want (to sell),’ said Emery. ‘For any deal we are going to be very demanding. Ollie Watkins is our striker. ‘There is a lot of speculation around our players but the most important thing is how they respond on the field. They are showing us they are mature and responsible.
![[Emery also confirmed that Jhon Duran is set to move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for £63million]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/00/94659279-14340421-Emery_also_confirmed_that_Jhon_Duran_is_set_to_move_to_Al_Nassr_-a-7_1738197328254.jpg)
Unai Emery insisted that he wants to keep Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa amid Arsenal interest. Mikel Arteta's side submitted a bid for the striker just hours before the Champions League win. Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan and has 10 goals for Villa in all competitions this campaign.
![[The former Arsenal boss revealed he was upset at half-time after his side let slip a two goal lead]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/00/94659157-14340421-The_former_Arsenal_boss_revealed_he_was_upset_at_half_time_after-a-8_1738197328268.jpg)
‘You know my opinion on Jhon Duran. He is a fantastic player with great potential. I wanted him here, but what does he want? We are all different people with different objectives and we have to respect that. ‘If he is leaving it is because he prefers to go another way in his career. It’s good news for the club because someone is paying good money for him, after we developed him in the last two years.
![[Brenda Rodgers was quick to praise the new Champions League format as his side progress]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/00/94661595-14340421-Brenda_Rodgers_was_quick_to_praise_the_new_Champions_League_form-a-10_1738197329105.jpg)
