Aston Villa reportedly consider talisman Ollie Watkins not for sale amid speculation over a potential exit this summer.
The 29-year-old has played a fundamental role in our progress over the past five years since he joined us from Brentford, as he’s gone on to score 87 goals and provide 42 assists in 223 appearances.
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While he will continue to lead the line and offer a crucial presence up top for Unai Emery as part of his preferred system and style of play, transfer rumours have linked Watkins with a departure this summer in what would have been a costly blow for Villa given his ongoing impact and influence in the final third.
However, according to The Telegraph, amid rumoured interest from Manchester United in the England international, Watkins is said to be considered as not for sale by Villa, and so the expectation is that he will remain with us ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Watkins is part of the squad that has now travelled across to the USA for our pre-season tour, and so hopefully with speculation being dismissed, it will end talk over his future and he can fully focus on getting back to his best both in terms of fitness and form ahead of the new season.
Albeit he will perhaps himself concede that he could be more clinical, he continues to offer a reliable and durable option up front, and with his goals, assists, movement and ability to lead the line so effectively for Emery as well as his work ethic from a defensive perspective, he will be critical to our ambitions moving forward.
That said, with Villa looking to compete on multiple fronts again this year, we’ll need to add quality depth to be able to rotate and rest Watkins, and so it remains to be seen who arrives in the summer transfer window to provide him with competition and cover.
Donyell Malen has shown an ability to play up top when needed as well as on the right side, and so that is perhaps an option that Emery will utilise when necessary, but with talk over a potential move elsewhere now hopefully being dismissed for the summer, Watkins will once again be a pivotal figure in Villa’s pursuit of success in the upcoming season.
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