Arsenal’s £45m Bid for Ollie Watkins Rejected by Aston Villa

BIRMINGHAM, England — Arsenal‘s pursuit of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins hit a snag after their £45 million bid was rejected, according to reports. The offer, made hours before both teams played in the Champions League, was dismissed by Villa, who are determined to retain their star player.

The bid, initially rumored to be £60 million, was confirmed to be closer to £45 million by sources. Villa’s hierarchy was reportedly frustrated by the timing of the offer, which came just before their crucial Champions League match against Celtic. The club has no intention of selling Watkins, especially after recently agreeing to sell Jhon Durán to Al-Nassr for £64 million.

“With Arsenal weighing up whether to test Villa’s resolve with a second offer, Telegraph Sport understands the opening bid that was immediately rejected was closer to £45 million than the £60 million that was originally reported,” a report stated. Villa values Watkins at over £80 million, a figure Arsenal is unlikely to meet.

Arsenal, currently chasing the Premier League title, believe their offer represented fair market value. However, Villa’s stance remains firm. “There was annoyance inside Villa Park at the timing of the bid and the size of the offer,” sources revealed. The club compared the situation to West Ham’s rejected £57 million bid for Durán earlier in the transfer window.

Watkins, 29, has been a key player for Villa this season, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists in 33 appearances. His departure would leave a significant void in Unai Emery‘s squad. Arsenal, meanwhile, is considering whether to make an improved offer, but any deal would require a substantial increase to change Villa’s position.

Stefan Borson, a finance expert, told Football Insider, “I don’t think the deal will happen. There is no value in Villa selling him, especially after they have just sold Duran.” He added that finding a striker at this late stage in the transfer window is challenging for Arsenal.

As the transfer deadline approaches, Arsenal faces an uphill battle to secure Watkins, with Villa’s valuation and the player’s importance to the team making a deal increasingly unlikely.