Unai Emery sends message to Arsenal over Ollie Watkins transfer

Yesterday at 06:04 PM

Unai Emery insists he does not want to lose Ollie Watkins and says Aston Villa will be ‘very demanding’ in any possible deal involving the striker after Arsenal’s failed £60m offer.

The Gunners launched a stunning move for Watkins in the final week of the January transfer window, but saw their opening bid worth £60m knocked back by Aston Villa.

‘I don’t want him to be sold,’ Emery said. ‘It’s good new to have offers from other clubs.

‘Every player can be in the market in case its good for the player, club & the team.

‘But to get this deal, of course we are going to be very demanding and Watkins is our striker.’

Mikel Arteta also addressed the rumours around Watkins after Arsenal’s Champions League game, though he had little to say on the topic.

‘I can't talk about any of that,’ he said.

‘My confidence is that we have an amazing club with people always working to try and improve. Let's see what happens.’

More to follow…