Ollie Watkins to Arsenal transfer latest - Deadline day update, £60m twist, Mikel Arteta plan

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After pursuing Benjamin Sesko for so much of 2024 and then laying the groundwork for a deal in the early stages of 2025, Arsenal surprised everyone. With less than one week to go of the January transfer window - which ends on February 3 - a bid was made for Ollie Watkins.

The 29-year-old, who celebrated his most recent birthday in December, has long been linked with a move to North London. He is a boyhood Arsenal fan. He has been a player on the club's radar for a while.

A Premier League record of 69 goals and 31 assists in 170 appearances backs up the hype. Watkins ended last season with a career-best 34 top-flight contributions.

On deadline day he remains one of the players to watch. Here, football.london has the latest on his Aston Villa future and a potential move to the Emirates Stadium.

Bid truth

Although news of Arsenal's bid became public last Wednesday (January 29), it was submitted and swiftly rejected considerably earlier. Arsenal were testing the waters of a move knowing that it was always going to be a big ask.

Watkins is said to be open to a move if a deal can be reached but he will not force to leave Villa. Unai Emery explained that he had spoken with the player and both were happy to continue together in the Midlands.

Despite suggestions of a second offer going in, nothing has come to pass. The actual price of Arsenal's bid is still disputed. Initial reports of it being closer to £60million have been rubbished with further claims that it was only as much as £45million, well short of Villa's valuation.

Things have not been helped by the sale of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for nearly £70million. Villa are understandably not keen to see both senior strikers leave in the same window.

Emery and sporting director Monchi had turned their attentions towards Joao Felix at Chelsea as potential attacking reinforcement which could have changed things for Arsenal and Watkins. The valuation Chelsea had of their Portuguese star, especially for a Champions League-chasing rival, makes an exit unlikely, therefore impacting the chances of a Watkins move as well.

Arteta stance

When asked about Watkins and buying a senior striker before the win over Manchester City, Arteta said: "We don't really look at the market in those terms.

"We look at what we have in this squad, what we are lacking and what can really impact and bring something that potentially can make us much better, regardless of the age or sometimes the background that they have. It's a real belief that that player can be really good for us over time."

He was then pushed on other attacking plans for deadline day after the game. "I don't know, my phone has been off with transfer window, forbidden to call me, to text me about any of that," he said. "My focus was that that's the best preparation we can have for Wednesday, and that was the only thing I was interested in."

Arteta continued: "I don't know. I have been focused in the last 24 hours on what we had to do to try to beat Man City. Now we have done it, ok, we will discuss the situation as we always do, then Newcastle, that’s the important thing.

"It's about intentions, and the intention, I think we have been very clear from every angle of what we want to do. And the other is the reality and what you are able to do. It’s always possible."

Deadline day worry

Although it appears unlikely, Arsenal have been given an update on Watkins late on in the window. He had to be taken off early against Wolves on Saturday with injury.

If a deal was to be completed he would be eligible for the Champions League knockout stages and Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United. Watkins is not cup-tied but does still have three years left on his current contract.

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