An Aston Villa striker is set for a medical to complete a January transfer, but it is not Ollie Watkins. Despite a £60million approach from Arsenal earlier this week, which Villa turned down, Watkins was named in the starting XI to face Celtic in the Champions League.
The 29-year-old is a huge Arsenal fan and has previously admitted it would be a dream to play for the Gunners. That would suggest he is open to the move but that stance is not seemingly reflected by Villa and Unai Emery with Jhon Duran also attracting significant interest this month.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old along with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and it looks as though the latter are very closing to signing him. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Duran is set for a medical in London on Thursday before completing a £64million (€77m) switch.
It is highly unlikely that Emery sanctions both deals which would suggest Arsenal have some serious work to do on Watkins. As the Saudi Arabia transfer window closes on Thursday, January 30, Al-Nassr are moving quickly to bring in a striker with Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface lined up as their alternative.
Based on that, it is still possible that Duran remains at Villa Park and that could give Arsenal the green light to sign Watkins. Despite insisting they do not want to sell, given his age, form and his contract situation, Villa may not have a better time to sell than now
