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Topics: Arsenal, Transfer News, Premier League, Manchester United, Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa, Marcus Rashford, Champions League
Luke Davies
Topics: Arsenal, Transfer News, Premier League, Manchester United, Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa, Marcus Rashford, Champions League
Arsenal supporters think Manchester United could help them sign their ‘dream’ striker before the end of the January transfer window.
Despite being second in the league ahead of Premier League game week 24, Arsenal and Mikel Arteta will be hoping to add to their squad.
The club will likely focus on recruitment in attacking areas as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are currently sidelined due to injuries.
This has meant that Kai Havertz has led the line for most of the season. And despite scoring eight goals in 20 Premier League appearances, he often comes under fire for not performing in big games when the Gunners need a match-winner.
Despite previous links with the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, the Gunners submitted a shock bid reportedly worth around £60m for Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins on Wednesday, which was rebuffed by Villa.
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Watkins, 29, has previously admitted that playing for the north London club was “the dream”.
"Thierry Henry, as an Arsenal fan, was unbelievable to watch," he told Sports Gazette in March 2020.
"He was my idol growing up.
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"The dream is to play for Arsenal one day but it's a long shot. My family support them and stuff like that but that's the long term."
And despite Arsenal’s first approach having been rejected, the club’s fans think the prospect of Marcus Rashford joining Villa could influence Watkins’ potential move to Arsenal.
On Saturday, The Athletic reported that Rashford, 27, is ‘close’ to penning a loan deal at the Midlands club.
Villa have already sold Jhon Duran this week, with the Colombian joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in a deal worth up to £71m according to BBC Sport.
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So, they are still arguably short forward areas, but Arsenal fans on social media think the supposed Rashford move could be the catalyst for a ‘domino effect’ from which Watkins joins Arsenal before the transfer deadline on Monday at 11 pm.
One said: "He is better than your current striker. So it's a good deal for Arsenal but the money is way too much for his talent."
Another added: "No way it's happening."
A third commented: "Please let him come to us."
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Another explained: "Rashford to Aston Villa… You know what that means."
And despite Arsenal's interest Villa boss Unai Emery maintained that Watkins is "happy" at the club.
"Yes, he is happy to stay," Emery said in a press conference this week. "We asked him how he is feeling and he is happy here.
"The commitment of Watkins is really a huge commitment to defend Aston Villa. He appreciates how Aston Villa was always supporting him and helping him.
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"Also, when we joined two years ago, how we always tried to get the best of him."