Interest from Premier League clubs
Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker, is reportedly attracting significant attention from Manchester United and Arsenal. Both clubs are said to be monitoring the player closely. This interest comes amid speculation surrounding Watkins’ future at Villa Park.
Manchester United‘s interest in Watkins could intensify if Joshua Zirkzee departs for Serie A. Should Zirkzee move to clubs such as Juventus or Roma, Manchester United is expected to make an official offer for Watkins. Similarly, Arsenal is also keen on Watkins, with reports suggesting he is a top target for manager Mikel Arteta, especially with discussions about Gabriel Jesus‘s potential exit.
Villa’s stance and potential transfer fees
Aston Villa has previously demonstrated a firm stance regarding Watkins’ availability. The club reportedly blocked an attempt by Fenerbahce to sign the striker. Fenerbahce was preparing a bid of £30 million, but Villa made it clear they would not consider parting with him at that price.
Despite their resolve, sources suggest that Villa might consider offers for Watkins in the region of £40 million. However, another report indicates that there is no specific price in mind for his exit. The financial capabilities of Premier League clubs are seen as a significant factor that could test Villa‘s determination to retain their key player.
The ongoing speculation about Watkins’ future is also linked to Aston Villa‘s pursuit of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson. Reports suggest that Villa is willing to meet Chelsea‘s asking price of around £60 million for Jackson, which would represent a club record transfer. Positive discussions between Villa and Chelsea are believed to have taken place.
Should Jackson join Aston Villa, the club could become more open to the prospect of Watkins’ departure. While Villa is not expected to actively push Watkins out, an exit could become a possibility under these circumstances. Watkins has been a significant asset to Aston Villa since his debut in the Premier League in 2020.
In other transfer news, Real Madrid is working on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca is reportedly considering a move for Chelsea winger Pedro Neto this summer. Additionally, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United are competing to sign Rayo Vallecano full-back Andrei Ratiu, who is 28 years old. Arsenal is also reportedly willing to offer Viktor Gyokeres in an attempt to bring Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Chelsea is considered a favourite to sign Bosnia-Herzegovina teenager Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Harry Kane is set to begin talks with Bayern Munich regarding a new contract. Reports also suggest that Darwin Nunez could be offered a move to the MLS from Saudi Arabia.
Manchester United officials have invited Marcus Rashford to participate in a club documentary, which has led to suggestions that the club may be reconsidering his future at Old Trafford. The transfer window continues to be active as clubs prepare for the upcoming season, with many potential moves being discussed on Friday, 24 July 2026.
Source: skysports.com
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”