Ollie Watkins 'open to Arsenal move' as new move lined up

Ollie Watkins would be open to a move to Arsenal in the summer after they failed in a late-January attempt to sign the Aston Villa star.

That is according to former Villa, Man United and Tottenham scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected at Villa Park, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the striker could become the main man in a title-winning side.

This comes after Brown told Football Insider that the Gunners plan to revisit their interest in the 29-year-old at the end of the season.

Watkins was the subject of a £60million bid during the January window, but the timing of the offer saw Villa swiftly turn away any suggestions of his departure.

Jhon Duran's move to Saudi Arabia meant Unai Emery's side were short of options up front despite the late arrival of Marcus Rashford on loan from Man United.

However, both Villa and Watkins are thought to be more open to the deal taking place in the summer and are prepared to entertain the Gunners should they return.

Ollie Watkins makes Arsenal decision after Aston Villa bid

Football Insider revealed on 31 January that the Gunners are attempting to play on the heartstrings of Watkins, a boyhood Arsenal fan, to convince him to make the move.

Now, Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that a move to Arsenal could be the next step for him despite Villa's recent success.

"Watkins is an Arsenal fan, isn't he," he told Football Insider.

"You don't know how much that might play a part, or whether he'll think now that he's the nailed-on main man up front for Villa he'll want to stay.

"But from what I hear, he'd be open to making that move in the summer.

"As good as Villa have been, and I mean no disrespect because they've been fantastic and they deserve their success, a move to Arsenal is still a step up.

"He'd be challenging for league titles and potentially as the first-choice striker in that team.

"So the short answer is yes, I think if Arsenal come back in for him in the summer that's a move he'd be willing to make."

In other news, Liverpool and Arsenal enter race to sign Marc Guehi.

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