The real reason Arsenal didn't sign Ollie Watkins in January transfer window (2025)

Jamie Carragher has revealed the real reason Arsenal spurned the opportunity to sign Ollie Watkins during the January transfer window.

The England international had been a central figure in Villa’s resurgence under Unai Emery until the recent loan signings of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.

Watkins appears to have slipped down his manager’s pecking order to such an extent whereby he felt compelled to give a passionate interview following the role he played in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Newcastle.

The 29-year-old’s demotion appears to have coincided with his failed move to Arsenal, the team he supported as a boy, earlier this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side appeared to be badly in need of a striker following the season-ending injuries sustained by Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Watkins appeared to represent an ideal solution but the move fell through and Villa, instead, boosted their coffers by selling Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in a deal worth £64million.

‘When we talk about Arsenal going for Ollie Watkins, someone told me that Aston Villa offered him to Arsenal,’ Carragher told The Overlap when discussing Watkins’ current predicament.

‘I know that. I don’t think it was Arsenal phoning Villa saying they want to sign him.

‘Arsenal didn’t sign him because they didn’t offer a lot of money. They offered around £50 million. However, this is the information I had. If I know that then I’m sure his agent knows that.

‘Villa have spent a lot of money, and they need to get something back. In an ideal world, you probably would sell Ollie Watkins and keep Jhon Duran because he is the younger player – he is only 21.’

Watkins, meanwhile, will hope to earn a starting spot this weekend when his side are in FA Cup semi-final action against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

‘I was just saying, from my point of view, every player wants to play,’ Watkins said when asked about his post-Newcastle remarks. ‘And that’s it, really.’

Put to Watkins that Emery was delighted by his response against Newcastle, he said: ‘Yeah, well, I think there’ll probably be a worry if I said, ‘I’m happy to just sit on the bench and don’t want to play’.

‘I think I’d be getting a bit of backlash, so, yeah, just say it as it is.’

Watkins spoke with confidence and clarity as the striker prepares for Saturday’s crunch semi-final as Villa seek a first trophy in 29 years.

‘I think this is the furthest since I’ve been at the club we’ve got in the FA Cup,’ he said.

‘We’ve always gone out quite early doors and it’s disappointing. You want to win these competitions and it’s nice that we’re in the latter stages of it.

‘I’ve been saying to the boys one thing I set my eyes on when I joined the club was winning a trophy.

‘It’s been so long since the club has done that and that’s the main aim, so, yeah, Saturday is massive and we will be doing all we can to get to the final.’

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