Arsenal are likely to be busy in the summer transfer window and a new striker is set to be high on their wish list.
Arsenal want Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, while Benjamin Sesko has been linked to Arsenal too.
And then there’s Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins, who Arsenal previously tried to sign, though that interest has since cooled.
Sam Allardyce has now made a claim that suggests the Gunners would be in a very strong position if they chose to move for him again.
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Sam Allardyce says Ollie Watkins would jump at Arsenal opportunity
Allardyce spoke about Villa on the latest episode of the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast alongside Natalie Pike and guest Simon Grayson.
When asked whether he felt Ollie Watkins would leave Villa, Allardyce said he didn’t think the club would allow him to leave.
“No, because they’ve got nobody else,” said Allardyce. “I don’t think they’re going to sign (Marcus) Rashford, he’s not a centre-forward.”
Allardyce then suggested Watkins would jump at the chance of joining Arsenal if they rekindled their interest in him.
“I think if Arsenal is still interested, Ollie Watkins will do his very best to leave now,” said Allardyce.
Watkins has been left out of Villa’s starting line-up in several big games, including the Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG.
Allardyce says this now poses a “big problem” for Villa.
“After him being left out on the Champions League and him showing his disagreement for being left out and that slight disappointment – and rightly so…
“But I mean, the manager looks like he doesn’t take kindly to that sort of stuff, and he’s a strong man.
“And has done exceptionally well at Villa, so it’s a big problem for them, but if they offered to him he’ll have found that out as well, he will know.
“If Jamie Carragher knows if it is true – we can’t, it’s speculation as far as we’re concerned – but if he finds out that’s the case, he’s going to hope that Arsenal still want him.”
What Ollie Watkins has said about joining Arsenal
It’s no secret that Watkins would love to join the Gunners. Indeed, Watkins publicly said in 2020 that he dreams of signing for Arsenal.
“Yeah, the dream. That’s the dream to play for Arsenal one day”, Watkins said. “But you know, it’s a long shot.”
He is certainly highly rated – legendary Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler called Watkins “tremendous” recently.
The thing with Watkins, however, is that as good – and Premier League proven – as he is, he’s going to be 30 this year.
Villa reportedly want £60million for Watkins this summer and, for that price, Arsenal could probably get a much younger striker with high resale value from elsewhere.
For instance, Florian Plettenberg has reported that Sesko’s release clause at RB Leipzig is now £68million.
That’s just £8million more than Watkins’ purported price tag, for a high-calibre striker who’s eight years younger.
