Unai Emery has confirmed that Ollie Watkins is ready to overcome Arsenal’s interest and stay in Aston Villa.
International England was the subject of an offer of 60 million pounds of pounds by Gunners earlier this week, with news just a few hours before Wednesday night’s 4-2 win over Celtic in the Champions League, a game in the Champions League, a game in which Watkins noted and lost a penalty.
With Jhon Duran on the verge of sealing a £ 64 million moving to Al Nassr, the last thing the villa needs is Watkins to show what he wants as well. But Emery says, after talking to him, the 29 -year -old is happy at Villa Park.
Emery said: “Yes, he’s happy to stay. We asked him how he felt every day and he’s happy here.
“He greatly appreciates the way the villa always supported him and helped him when we entered here two years ago how we worked with him and get the best of him.
“Now we need him, as Aston Villa has needed in recent years. I speak a lot with him, he always adapts to every occasion we have and of course when some teams call us to care about players is very good for us and players.
“Some players prefer to leave and some accept to stay here and commit to our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins.”
The boss arrived for his own #Wolavl Press Conference 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/fpya6rdndg
– Aston Villa (@avfcofficial) 31 January 2025
Defensive concerns about Wolves Derby
After the euphoria of the middle week, the villa turns their attention back to the Premier League tomorrow with local skating issues in Wolves.
They will make a short trip to Molineux without a defensive twin Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash.
Mings was injured against West Ham last weekend, while Cash lasted just 30 minutes from the Celtic game before removing.
Emery said: “We will train this afternoon, but Matty Cash is not available. It will be more or less, three or four weeks out.
“Tyrone Mings is a minor injury, not really bad, but I think it will take a few days more to be ready to play.”
