If Villa need the money, then selling Duran to Nassr this window would make more sense as they are offering the higher fee. And Duran is the lower ranked striker, so would theoretically be the easier player to replace at short notice.
Replacing your main striker would be something you want to plan properly, especially if you are selling to a team based in your league.
I may have confused players but is Duran one of the players that had reportedly fallen out with Emory or was that the CB who left earlier in the window?
It does seem that there is some disagreement between Emery and Duran. Emery seems to think that Duran has his priorities wrong and has put money ahead of a meaningful career.
Apparently, Villa have ‘angrily’ rejected Arsenal’s offer.
Olly Watkins is a really good player, but he is 29 years old. Arsenal chasing him for £60m is absolute desperation.
It’s the kind of signing that we, or any club with a sensible transfer policy, would never make.
Spending £60m on someone who will need to be replaced in 2-3 years with zero resale value is a bad plan. It also prevents them from signing a top striker in the summer. Recent experience buys like Jorginho, Merino, and Sterling hasn’t worked out well too.
How good is he on corners.
I don’t think Villa sound happy though so unless he hands in a request like Torres I can’t see it happening.
It would make sense for Villa if this was July. However they’ve just got through in Europe and will be chasing a European spot and I assume they are still in the FÃ Cup.
Arteta bidding on Watkins, is probably thinking, another barren season leaves him with only 6months to save his job - now a case of shit or bust…!
They must have gotten word that Villa were planning to sell either Duran or Watkins and thought they could get Watkins. They must know that’s dead in the water now though with Duran retiring to Nassr.
He is also completely different stylistically to anything they used since they got rid of PEA at the beginning of Arteta’s first full season. There are huge red flags about making that sort of move for a player of this price at this stage in a season.
It’s a panic buy. I think the main thing driving the bid is a sense that if they don’t win the title this year, they have blown it. City have had their five year blip season and if they don’t capitalise, they won’t get another chance.
There is a lot about Arsenal - their team, their fans, their management - that suggests they thought they were anointed for the title as soon as City had an off season. Like how City faltered in 19/20 and we walked the title.
The difference is that in 19/20 we had already posted a 98 point season and won the European Cup. We were a much better team than anything in this league today, and certainly much better than Arsenal (I think the City and Liverpool teams that went at each other over a four year period between 2018 and 2022 might be the best England has ever seen).
I think Villa’s main gripe is the fact that Arsenal dropped a bid for one of Villa’s key players hours before a massive game in the Champions League. Had it been after the game, it may not have pissed villa off so much, but it was seen as Arsenal deliberately trying to disrubt Villas season
Ollie Watkins is pushing for a move to Arsenal in the final days of the transfer window. #AFC have already seen a £40million bid rejected out of hand. Clubs were keen to continue negotiating in private, but it seems Watkins’ agent has made it public to force the issue. #AVFC
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As one of England’s finest, Arsenal should pay £120m for him, not a penny less.
Fixed.
No no no, Watkins will be their saviour, they just need to fork out the £200m Villa should be demanding.
Seeing as Duran’s deal to Saudi is pretty much wrapped up, why would they then go and sell their last 1st team striker?
They would be better off telling Arsenal to fuck off, then allow him the chance to move in the summer when they have had the chance to plan who they will look at replacing him
That sort of looks like their plan, which is why Watkins’ agent is doing everything in public
Agreed, terrible transfer policy - but I would entirely get it if Lego Head sees Watkins as the Van Persie to United move. Short term he is a great shout to see if Arsenal can win a title, and lego head probably knows his time is up soon, and the squad he’s assembled needs a couple of quick fixes.
