Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has offered his response to speculation suggesting that the club is in talks with Ollie Watkins over a new contract.
As reported by the Daily Mail this week, the 27-year-old is said to be in discussions over a new deal, with the suggestion that a new agreement could make him one of the top earners at Villa.
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Watkins has been in brilliant form since Emery took charge, scoring nine of his 11 goals and provided three of his five assists so far in the Premier League this season under the stewardship of the Spaniard and his coaching staff.
As he continues to play a decisive role for us in our progression and development, it would be a deserved reward to secure a new contract, as he looks ahead to being a vital part of Emery’s plans moving forward.
However, while the Villa boss may have simply preferred not to delve into details of any discussions happening behind the scenes, he hinted that talks haven’t actually begun yet, although he reiterated his happiness with Watkins and insisted he wants to keep him while noting that he would deserve any potential new deal.
“We didn’t speak about it because we are very happy with him,” he told the media, as per VillaTV. “We are involved every day with our target in front, collectively and individually. He deserves to get a new contract, to extend the contract and to get more money. He is deserving. We want to keep him with us.”
Meanwhile, Emery was also asked about the reasons behind the improvement from the Villa striker since he was appointed as manager, as Watkins has undoubtedly raised his game in various aspects.
Aside from the goalscoring and clinical edge to his play now as he continues to score in different ways, his movement, hold-up play and ability to link our play together have all improved, while he’s continued to pair that with an excellent work ethic and commitment to provide pressing and pressure for the team as part of the defensive performance.
While he has spoken about this previously, Emery again praised Watkins’ desire to improve and his commitment, while it’s clear that there has been a lot of work at the training ground – both physically and mentally in terms of learning how to be more effective and impactful in the final third while adapting to his tactical demands – that has sparked this upturn in form.
“I was watching his last season at Brentford,” Emery added. “He scores goals. We are trying to use his qualities, his commitment, his power to try to add him to learn different ways to improve. He’s very humble to do it.
“Each session is very good; he’s the example. He wants to learn, improve. He listens to everything. He works on and off the pitch. He thinks only about football and watches clips of him and other strikers. It’s the way! It’s a very good example for me to use for other players. Ollie Watkins is 100 percent committed.”