Arsenal sporting director Edu has now identified a striker boss Mikel Arteta loves as a potential transfer target as the Gunners now look to improve their attack this summer.
The north London natives are primed to play a vital role in the centre-forward market after a mixed attacking campaign. Arsenal kicked off this term struggling to fire on all cylinders with Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah leading the line. But they fired into life at the turn of the year.
Arsenal’s incredible start to 2024 eased fears about the Emirates Stadium club not signing a recognised No9 in January. Edu looked for the missing part of Arteta’s puzzle but FFP limits prevented any deals. Yet Arsenal’s interest in signing a striker is strong ahead of the summer.
Arsenal eye the transfer of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports that Edu has placed Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as a potential transfer target for Arsenal. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season in Birmingham and also scored his 26th goal in the Villans’ 2-0 win over the Gunners.
Watkins has fired 19 of his efforts through 32 Premier League games and has also laid on 10 assists. The 11-cap England star has even scored seven goals in Europe with two goals in the Europa Conference League qualifiers, before hitting four in seven to make the quarter-finals.
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Scoring a delightful late chip at Emirates Stadium to punish Arsenal’s poor defending further put Watkins a goal away from breaking Aston Villa’s record for their most goals in a Premier League season. He has matched Christian Benteke’s tally of 19 from the 2012/13 campaign.
Arsenal are now monitoring Watkins’ displays with Aston Villa in view of a likely-to-be taxing transfer pursuit this summer. Arteta and Edu both admire the Torquay native but the Villans would want in excess of £70m. He also agreed to sign a contract until June 2028 in October.
Mikel Arteta will want a No9 after Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah’s plights
Aston Villa’s asking price is a potential hurdle that may prevent Arsenal from advancing their interest in Watkins’ transfer. The Gunners might baulk at a deal given his likely limited resale value ahead of turning 29 in December. Aston Villa will also likely not need to sell the striker.
Watkins, who Jamie Carragher has called ‘unstoppable’, could be the new No9 that Arteta is chasing at Arsenal. He now ranks in third place to Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer (20) in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race. But Aston Villa’s price could see Arsenal look elsewhere.
Arteta will want Arsenal to find a new centre-forward this summer regardless of targeting a transfer for Watkins, though. Jesus has only scored four goals through 22 top-flight games in another injury-troubled season. Nketiah may have five in 27 but he last scored in October.