Arsenal told ‘pay whatever it takes’ to complete Ollie Watkins signing
Arsenal have been urged to complete the signing of Ollie Watkins amid growing uncertainty over his future at Aston Villa.
Arsenal are expected to bring in a new striker this summer, following another season of attacking inconsistency that has seen their title hopes fade for the third year running.
With Gabriel Jesus sidelined by a season-ending injury, Arsenal made a move for Watkins during the January transfer window. However, Aston Villa opted to keep the England international and instead sanctioned the sale of Jhon Duran.
His position at Villa has come into question in recent weeks, having been dropped for key matches, including their Champions League quarter-final against PSG, sparking fresh doubts about his long-term role under Unai Emery.
Football Insider exclusively revealed that Arsenal are preparing to reignite their interest in Watkins ahead of the summer window, as Mikel Arteta looks to add a reliable goalscorer to his squad.
Now, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that the Gunners must make another push for Watkins if they want to take the next step in their development and truly challenge for major silverware.
Arsenal urged to make Ollie Watkins move amid exit speculation
It has been suggested that Watkins is unhappy at Aston Villa following a reduced role at the club, particularly after the arrival of Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Robinson insisted that Arsenal must “pay whatever it takes” to prise Watkins away from Villa Park after their failed attempt to land him in January.
“A lot of clubs will not pay over a certain amount for a 29-year-old… Ollie Watkins at 29, go and pay the money,” he told Football Insider.
“Go and pay whatever it takes to get him out.
“If you want to go to that next level with Arsenal, as in potentially they could win the Champions League this year, but actually this season they should have won the league, no doubt about it.
“The season that Manchester City slip up, you expect Arsenal to be the ones that slot in. They haven’t. They’ve fallen away and they’ve not done it again this season.
“Go and sign a striker, go and sign that player that will take you on to that next level.”
| Season statistics | Ollie Watkins | Kai Havertz |
| Appearances | 50 | 34 |
| Goals | 16 | 15 |
| Assists | 13 | 5 |
Arsenal face competitions from Liverpool in Ollie Watkins pursuit
Should the Gunners move forward with a bid for Watkins, they won’t be alone , as Football Insider revealed Liverpool are also keen on Watkins ahead of a summer move.
Arne Slot is said to be dissatisfied with the club’s current striker options and could offer the Englishman a chance to become first-choice at Anfield.
The 29-year-old is being considered as a more attainable alternative to Alexander Isak, with Newcastle expected to demand a significant fee that could deter suitors.
With Arsenal potentially missing out on Viktor Gyokeres, with Man United confident of making the move instead, Mikel Arteta’s side will be determined not to lose out on another top striker target.