Bit of a win now move from Arsenal that we don't usually see, in a market that isn't exactly bulging at the seams for proven strikers I think £60 million is fair actually
Ollie Watkins | Arsenal bid c. £60m
- Thread starter Berbaclass
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This comes across as another really dumb looking move from Arsenal trying to move for a rivals CF, remnants of the £40m + £1 days.
They clearly had zero clue how far the Duran deal was along (even though it was strongly rumoured most of January in the media) and they've bid far too late.
As others have said, zero chance Villa sell both. They're 4 points off the top 4 and on the CL knockout stages, sell both leaves them without a recognized CF and trying to replace them with a completely new player before the window shuts in 4 days...
They clearly had zero clue how far the Duran deal was along (even though it was strongly rumoured most of January in the media) and they've bid far too late.
As others have said, zero chance Villa sell both. They're 4 points off the top 4 and on the CL knockout stages, sell both leaves them without a recognized CF and trying to replace them with a completely new player before the window shuts in 4 days...
Surely we would let them have Rashford for half that, 2 years younger and more goals, come on Arsenal do us a solid
They really owe us after we did the same for them with RvP
I thought this too, initially. But there are reports that the bid only became public yesterday and was made before. In which case, it would actually be in Villa’s interests to put the story out there if they were willing to sell at a higher price.
Interestingly, Emery basically said that every player has their price and the club were going to be “very demanding” for Watkins. So I can imagine a deal getting done and Villa buying Felix.
He's not prime age. Or at least very shortly won't be.
Villa are mad to turn that down.
That's interesting if true and would certainly add suspicion that Villa are probing for a return bid if so...
I added a bit more to my post after but surely Villa won't do this? With 4 days left in the window you always run the risk that any deal for a replacement isn't done in time and they're left without a recognized striker in a campaign where they are in the CL and close to top 4 in the league at present...
Even if they could replace him, why would you bin off both of your CFs that are settled in the team and have that existing chemistry? It would be a completely mad FIFA career mode esque move.
That would be an insane move. He's fecking garbage.
They'd be better off going for someone like Gimenez from Feyenoord to replace Watkins and Dhuran if they both go. I'd say 70m ought to be enough to tempt them to sell.
You’re right, would be a bit mad to do that. If those reports are right, Arsenal actually bid before Jhon’s move was virtually sealed as it is now. In fact, in that scenario, Jhon’s imminent departure would be the catalyst for the bid, as you’re correct in saying no team wants to lose both their first team strikers with days left if the window.
The only upside would be financial. If Arsenal go up to, say, £70m for Watkins, that is by far the most Villa are going to be offered for him. Long term, it might be better for them to cash in on a 29 year old they paid £22m for. But in the short term, it would be incredibly disruptive to their season.
I cant understand how many fans still rate Felix as a high level talent based on his Benfica days. Since then he hasn't shown anything really at a consistent level.
He can barely get into a Chelsea attack with Sancho Madueke and Jackson in it.
Watkins is a proven PL goal scorer.
Yep, I think £70m is probably the magic number. Which would be overpaying, but Watkins scored the most non-penalty goals in the league last year alongside 13 assists. If he can help get us over the line in the next few years then it might be a win-win.
Yeah, I just picked that name cos Villa have been linked with him. I don’t rate him either.
They may have bid before Duran's move was sealed but he's been linked with a move away all January, even before the window opened. It's also rumoured that the bid went in on Monday for Watkins which is still late in the window anyway.
Really and truly they should have pursued the move a lot soon to give them a better chance of signing him and a better chance of getting a better deal. They needed a striker at the start of the window and still need one now. Gabriel Jesus' injury was a couple of weeks ago too.
Oh, I’m not disagreeing with any of that. In fact, we needed a striker way before Jesus was injured in the Summer.
Arsenal would probably better off passing on Watkins and paying that kind of money for Gimenez.
Exactly this
Exactly not this, Hojlund and Nunez have both shown they were well over priced. If someone pays £30 for a dozen eggs down the local market, don't mean I'm going to pay the same or more. Watkins is probably and just in my opinion, a £50 - £60 million player. However, to Villa, right now, he is worth a lot more. They are losing Duran, they sell Watkins, without a top replacement that they would have to over pay for, and that's their season done. So to Villa, they could only consider a ridiculous over valued bid, minimum £80m I am thinking.
I can't see Villa selling Duran & Watkins and leaving themselves without a striker.
Agreed. Arsenal have painted themselves into a corner, because we can’t go too much higher and still get our number one target (Sesko) in the Summer. But we have the same problem with Sesko as we did with Caicedo. RB have no incentive to sell as his value will be just as high, or even higher, at the end of the season.
Spot on.
I mean there is no way Villa will send their main striker at the end of a window in the middle of a crucial season.
Moronic to leave it this late.
... in comes Rashford.
Seriously though. They should have the money for either a loan or/and a potential permanent transfer.
And maybe Rashford would get the appeal. They had a great last season and are very competitive in CL this year.
Only question, as I see it, is if Villa wants to take the risk. They will need him to contribute right away if they are left without a striker.
Fair for Arsenal. He’s priceless to Villa especially at this time of the season in January with very little time to replace him.
Dr Marcus is available.
Yup, such a disingenuous attempt. A bit like their 40m + 1 offer for Suarez.
£60m+ is too good to turn down for a 29 year old. Makes perfect sense for Arsenal though, seems a lot but I'd put a few quid down on them winning the title if it goes through as all they're short on is a clinical striker, and Liverpool will definitely blow their lead, starting with 3 points dropped to Everton.
Surely Villa could get someone in to replace him as they'd be £130m or so up with selling Watkins and Duran. Nkunku from Chelsea maybe, even if just on loan until the summer where they could get a long term replacement in.
Rashford even, or would he deem Villa too far below his World class (in his head) talent?
Surely Villa could get someone in to replace him as they'd be £130m or so up with selling Watkins and Duran. Nkunku from Chelsea maybe, even if just on loan until the summer where they could get a long term replacement in.
Rashford even, or would he deem Villa too far below his World class (in his head) talent?
Like the RVP signing, if RVP wasn't as good, was more expensive and we weren't as close to winning the league.
If he helps them to a league title in the short term, it would be justified. But if he doesn't (which he could easily not) then you've spent a lot of money on a short term fix.
If he helps them to a league title in the short term, it would be justified. But if he doesn't (which he could easily not) then you've spent a lot of money on a short term fix.
Surprised a bit that Villa didn't take that money for him, I don't think he is worth anywhere near that much and misses far too many chances. They maybe felt slighted by Arsenal though.
They need a top tier striker, isn't Rashford more at ease on the wing than purely up front? And he's on ridiculous money that Arsenal would never accept.
At least they seemingly know that they might just be one fit striker away from a title challenge, but they left it late to fix the problem.
What are they gonna do with £60m? Sign two strikers for £30m-ish and pray to the Gods that one of them turns out remotely as effective for them as Watkins has been? Because they'd be priced out of the market from a fee and wage perspective by any big team for a striker that is as good as Watkins or actually costs around £60m (say Gyökeres who'd likely cost even more than that, will have more interest and options, and is also 27 years old by next season, and he'd be one of the hottest offseason strikers available probably).
With Duran gone, they'd also be giving up on their current season, which includes a realistic shot at getting to the QFs of the Champions League and qualifying for the CL again through the league since top 4 isn't out of the question (4 points off with 45 points to gain, and I believe even 5th place might get CL nowadays).
£60m for Watkins is very much fair value imo but this is an instance in which Villa has very little to gain from it.
We paid £64m for Hojlund (excl add-ons). Watkins is proven in the PL and on current form a much better player. I think it's fair value
Fair enough on the above. I just couldn't justify him being worth as much as 60 million from watching him. There is such a lack of centre forward talent in this current generation, I know, but I just don't see how it's good business.
The Saudis rolling in with the cheque book for Duran probably helps them reject the money though, no doubt about that. I don't know their PSR situation, but will the Duran money be able to be reinvested or is that covering for previous transfers?
They are doing quite well in the league and Duran looks to be off. They can't afford to lose both their strikers in one go.
Citing one of the worst pieces of transfer business of all time as a barometer is hardly fair, is it? If we are all going by the Hojlund deal then Watkins should be going for 150 million.
Imagine selling your strike force in the middle of a campaign, a campaign where you’re in the CL for the first time and are chasing a top 4 spot. The fans and manager would be furious.
Other players in the top 5 for missed chances are Salah and Haaland, not bad company.
Villa know they can hold out for more, why shouldn't they? This basically writes off their season unless they can pull a wonder signing out of the bag to replace their 2 starting strikers - could see them going for someone like Mbuemo and maybe even trying to bring Grealish back at a discount
Romano claiming we want Tel. 
He has close links with our DOF Monchi so we're probably looking at him more as replacement for Duran given his age.
He has close links with our DOF Monchi so we're probably looking at him more as replacement for Duran given his age.
I doubt it.
If they didn't make an effort to sign a striker in this window, what were Arsenal fans going to do? Riot after (at worst) cementing their place in the top-2 for the third consecutive season and comfortably walking into the RO16 of the CL? In any case, they're too busy cooking up conspiracy theories about refs, so there's no need for the club to run a distraction on them.
Wait, Monchi's ended up at Villa?!!!Romano claiming we want Tel.
He has close links with our DOF Monchi so we're probably looking at him more as replacement for Duran given his age.
It's anything but fair. Look at the price of even bang average strikers in today's market. That offer is a joke from a champions league and premier league rival.
Fair enough if that stats say that, but from watching them I would back the other two to take more of their good chances than Watkins.
Absolutely nothing wrong with holding out for money if they think that they can get it, I just despair at where the striker market is going really. I think Monchi could be trusted to do well in reinvesting incoming funds anyway.
Any chance do you think for Watkins? VillaTalk seems to be in 2 mindsRomano claiming we want Tel.
He has close links with our DOF Monchi so we're probably looking at him more as replacement for Duran given his age.