Ollie Watkins is ‘not happy’ at Aston Villa after transfer to rivals he desperately wanted collapsed
Ollie Watkins is believed to be unhappy at Aston Villa after their attempts to move him on during the transfer window, according to their former senior scout.
Mick Brown, who also worked as the chief scout at Man United and Sunderland and remains very well-connected within the game, exclusively told Football Insider that the constant speculation over the summer has unsettled the 29-year-old.
The striker has yet to find the net so far this season with Aston Villa now goalless in four games in a “disaster” start to the season for Unai Emery.
Watkins has been slammed for his displays, following a turbulent summer at Villa Park where he was heavily linked with a move away from the club.
Football Insider revealed in July that Aston Villa made clubs aware of Watkins’ availability, with the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Newcastle all heavily linked.
Ollie Watkins frustrated after Aston Villa exit talks
Brown told Football Insider in May that Aston Villa planned to let Watkins leave after they missed out on qualifying for the Champions League.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted the constant speculation surrounding the striker has led to this season’s poor form.
“There was so much talk about Watkins during the summer,” he told Football Insider.
“Would he leave, would he stay, which clubs wanted him, will Villa let him go, will they get a new striker? All of those questions were being asked without much clarity on the situation.
“I think the interest from Arsenal might have turned his head a bit, he was very, very keen on a move there and obviously that never came to be.
“Towards the end of last season, he was being left out of the team in favour of Marcus Rashford and he wasn’t happy about that at the time.
“I can’t imagine that’s done many favours to his confidence, now coming back in as their main striker knowing they really wanted somebody else in there.
“But that’s where they are now, he’s still at Villa so he has to get his head down and work to help them get out of this difficult patch they’re in at the moment.
“I just get the feeling he’s not happy with how things have been handled there.”
Suggested moves to Arsenal, Man United and Newcastle all fell through as they prioritised other options, adding to the frustrations surrounding Watkins’ summer window.
Watkins had his ‘head turned’ by Arsenal interest
Arsenal made a £40million offer for Watkins in January, which was swiftly rejected by Villa, but they were expected to return with a new offer in the summer.
Brown told Football Insider in May that Watkins wanted to join Arsenal and was keen to see them reignite their interest after the initial rejection.
However, Mikel Arteta‘s side eventually completed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres, leaving the England international stranded at Villa Park.
While Watkins never agitated for a move away from Villa Park, there is a growing feeling that he was unsettled by the summer speculation.
However, with pressure growing on Villa and Emery, the club are relying on their leading number nine to start scoring goals on a more regular basis.
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