Arsenal see audacious £60m bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa | OneFootball

Arsenal are ramping up their efforts to sign a prolific striker with only a few days remaining in the January transfer window.

Daily Mail, the Gunners have launched an audacious bid to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ahead of next week’s deadline.

The Gunners are in the market for a striker who can bolster their attacking options and reignite their Premier League title bid.

Watkins has been identified as an ideal target. Arsenal have long admired the England international, and reports claim their opening bid was in the region of £60 million.

It wasn’t enough to force Villa’s hand with the Birmingham club turning down the proposal, but Arsenal are expected to return with an improved bid for the ‘phenomenal‘ striker in the coming days.

Watkins is a key figure in Unai Emery’s squad and is under contract at Villa Park until the summer of 2028, so the Villans are under no pressure to do business.

The English talisman spearheaded Villa’s astonishing run to the Champions League last season with 27 goals and 13 assists in 53 games across all competitions.

The 29-year-old striker has been in fine form for Villa this season, notching ten goals and five assists in 23 Premier League games, including one against the Gunners in their recent 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Villa are in a strong position to resist offers, but Arsenal are determined to test their resolve.

While Villa will fight to keep him, a move to North London may be too tempting for Watkins to turn down, having previously expressed a childhood dream of playing for Arsenal.

That dream could soon become a reality as Arsenal look to reinforce their squad for a title push in the second half of the season.

The Gunners trail pacesetters Liverpool by six points, having played one more game.

But they’re firmly in the mix for the Premier League title, and Watkins could be the missing piece in their forward line.