Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker has been ongoing for some time, and the club remains determined to secure a signing before the transfer window progresses much further. With growing urgency at the Emirates, the Gunners are actively engaged in discussions regarding several high-profile forwards, though no deal has yet reached an advanced stage.
The Gunners have set their sights on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres as leading candidates to strengthen their attacking line. However, despite interest in both players, progress has stalled due to several unresolved complications. These hindrances have left Arsenal without clarity on whether either target will ultimately join their ranks.
Time Running Out as Competition Intensifies
As negotiations continue, Arsenal are in a race against time. Both Sesko and Gyokeres are attracting interest from other top European clubs, and the longer the Gunners delay, the more they risk losing out. The club is undoubtedly in need of a quality striker, but indecision at this stage could allow rivals to take the initiative and finalise agreements with their shared targets.
Given the unpredictable nature of the transfer market, Arsenal may need to broaden their options. While Sesko and Gyokeres remain high on the wishlist, attention could soon shift back to a more familiar name: Ollie Watkins. The Aston Villa striker was of strong interest to Arsenal during the January window, although the Midlands club firmly rejected their advances at the time.
Watkins Remains a Viable Alternative
Now, with current targets proving difficult to acquire, Watkins is once again being linked to a potential move to the Emirates. According to the Transfers Podcast, journalist Duncan Castles commented on the situation, stating:
“They’re not going to take both players. They’re going to take one of those players or potentially another striker. I would not rule Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa out of this discussion, depending on how negotiations go for Sesko and Gyokeres and how Gyokeres’ fight with Sporting turns out.”
Should Arsenal be unable to secure either of their primary targets, Watkins could emerge as a practical and proven solution. However, time is of the essence, and the club must act decisively to avoid being left without a suitable addition to lead their line next season.
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Duncan Castles🙄 “would not rule Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa out of this discussion.”
Wow!!!!
Some serious barrel scraping going on now.
But at least we potentially have a new GK, LB, and 3 new midfielders
N-Joi,
I’m just gutted that we’ve not signed another dog. Win needs a pal to play with after all. 😂👍
Jax, are you really saying that signing Ollie Watkins, would be scraping the bottom of the barrel?
He’s thirty not seventy and how old is Kane?
Villa thought enough of him to turn down £40 million and he’s still an England international.
If we could get him for ariubd the £30 million mark, I would see that as an excellent buy.
Proven PL player from a top six club, current England international, a self confessed Arsenal fan who can play either wing or down the middle, with a minimum of two years (my opinion only) left in the tank!!
Let’s scrap the barrel some more then!
I think like Watkins to help a Sesko
I’m worried if it’s just Sesko is that asking too much of a 22 year old ?
No Ken. Olllies OK (he once played for my local team), but the barrel scraping is the source of the article.
Sorry mate, misunderstood 👍
👍
Personally I think Watkins would be ideal.Im definitely not convinced that either Sesko or Gyokeres are the answer.The former is a variation of Havertz with a slightly better eye for goal the latter has scored plenty of goals (with a high % of penalties) in the same way that Darwin Nunez did before him.
Talking of Havertz I would be looking to offload him whilst his sales value remains fairly high.Before his injury his form was back at “Chelsea Levels ” and Merino proved to be more effective as a converted midfielder playing as a CF.We definitely dont need both of them.Sell Havertz and use the money on someone like Eze.
Jax,
What statement would that send to the rest of our rivals. Looking down the striker list and going further and further down that list.
If we keep going this way, they should come across Lee Chapman soon. Here’s hoping.🤞😂🤣🤦♂️👍
And also if we get Watkins then why not have just got him in January lol ?
Because villa wanted £60 million and The Arsenal valued him at £40 million lol.
Absolutely garbage .. we don’t need this old player .. get 2-3 years out of him at best , 40-60m lol . Get leao or someone fresher
A pretty dispiriting article, if true.
It seems to me that other clubs go after A, B, or C and more often than not get them, and in reasonable time, seemingly with little fuss. Liverpool with Wirtz and their other signings, for example. “They chose, they negotiate, they sign”.
With Arsenal though negotiations often appear to drag on (and on) and even then, something happens – “due to unresolved complications”, as the article puts it in this case – which potentially scuppers it in the end.
I dont get this sudden underrating of Ollie Watkins.
Weren’t many Arsenal fans clamouring for the club to sign him in January?
Weren’t people even on here screaming for the club to just pay the £60 million that Aston Villa wanted?
So, what has drastically changed in terms of his ability from between December to June that now the majority of our fans wouldn’t even entertain him as the striker to lead us to the Title? But in January many thought Ollie Watkins was the man to lead us to a Title challenge.
🤔🫣
Because Watkins seemed the best of available options since Gyokeres and Sesko were not moving.
Now with options available, why rush to a 30 year old with no resale value?
Good player, top backup, but not someone to lead our line now and for the future.
Won’t top Liverpool or City with Watkins.
Liverpool have Wirtz, City and Haaland, and we have Watkins?
If we are trying to keep up with them, Watkins is not a step forwards.
Disagree with you on this one Durand – most unusual!!
An ideal squad player who can compete equally with Saka, Martinelli and Trossard.
The club doesn’t seem interested in sell on value, as they either tear up contracts or let the players run them down.
Any news on you getting over to the motherland anytime soon my friend?
Ken
30 million for Watkins as a backup striker to replace Jesus and serve as insurance for Sesko would make great sense.
Otherwise I don’t think Watkins can get us to the next level, he is not the finisher we need up top for now and into the future.
Next Summer is my plan, I have to renew my passport. Wait for my “Real ID” to be completed, so I can use that to renew my passport.
Quite a convoluted process just to travel by airplane.
Let me know how it goes Durand and I’ll then start to see about tickets for the Emirates.
I agree, Watkins at £30 million would be a snip and I also see him as challenging for a place on both wings as well as CF.
But that don’t make sense. Some to this day still go on about why we should have paid the supposed £60 million for Ollie Watkins in January.
Imagine if the club was as shortsighted like our fans and went ahead to waste £60 million on an average 30 year old Ollie Watkins. The same player that Emery sees as a bench level / substitute player.
But some of our fans for some weird reason thought that that same Ollie Watkins was the man to move us loser to Liverpool from January. The same Ollie Watkins that has not helped Aston Villa make the Top 5 (CL) this season.
How was he going to push us to a title challenge?
Sesko = £70 million
Gyökeres = £70 million
Ollie Watkins = £60 million.
Because we have had months to sort this out and have spent net approx 15 million in 3 windows
Can you honestly say if he’s the only striker signed Ollie Watkins is Arsenal doing everything to be Champions ?
Dan, we can’t “sort it out” if the player we want plays hardball at the crucial moment (Sesko) and likewise with the club we are buying from (Sporting Lisbon).
I’m sure MA knows who he wants, but that doesn’t mean he will get them.
Even our own club have negotiated at the last minute (paying by instalments) for Zubimendi.
Liverpool and Man City manage too
If we don’t get Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres having spoken to them last year then we will be a laughing stock
Surely even you must be thinking that they had since January to get this sorted ?
Even me?!
As I said Dan, if the player or the club decide they want a buy out clause, or up the asking price, what should our club do?
Roll over and be taken for granted?
No walk away and get someone else
My point is we clearly been speaking for months so at a certain point you say to a club that is the asking price , do we agree with that value and do we agree with the players terms and conditions .
If the answer is no you then move on
But yet again as a club we stand still .
Mikel Arteta was asking for a striker in December
That’s 7 months for the club to get all this information
Can I ask Ken do you really think Arsenal act like a club who can be Champions ?
Depends Dan.
Wages most certainly.
Ground most certainly.
Players most certainly.
Manager most certainly.
Owner most certainly.
Supporters most certainly.
Trophies won most certainly.
Fans no.
Transfer Windows no.
Players contracts no.
Let me try for fun
Wages – Yes
Ground – no
Players – currently no
Manager – sadly I fear no
Owner – no
Supporters – no
Trophies won – not sure it’s relevant ?
Transfer Window – no
Contracts ,- getting better
That was true. Now though there are other and better options in the form of Gyokeres or Sesko so Watkins has inevitably fallen down the pecking order. As long as those other two are in the running, if they still are in the running, the likes of Watkins would be a step down.
@Clock End
So no longsightedness here. People were willing for the club to waste £60 million on an average 30 year old Ollie Watkins in January but now all of a sudden the same fans don’t want him 5 months later?
What kind of competent business owner would do that? Make such Impulsive, costly irrational decisions out of panic?
Just imagine if we had spent £60 million on 30 years old Watkins in January?. The same fans would be the ones still whining about how we need a better £60-£80 million striker this summer to be the main starter as Ollie was just bought as a number two (substitute).
Then later will turn around and claim how Arteta has spent £1 billion on average / mediocre players such as £60 million Ollie Watkins etc.
😁😊
Isn’t it also a question of Arsenal putting down a marker that reinforces their ambition to actually win the title this time around? We’ve seen something similar in Liverpool’s transfer activity so far, albeit as reigning champions.
Considering going for Watkins at this time against the other two would look like a cop-out to me, although I think Arsenal need to get a move on and try to resolve the reported “complications” if they really do want either Gyokeres or Sesko.
Watkins is not a quality Striker I though Arsenal were looking for a top class Striker.
This is a Cheap option and Arsenal’s failure to get a get a deal done. Liverpool don’t seem to have trouble getting their targets. What going on at Arsenal when Edu departed I thought great at last Arsenal will change and we would get our targets. But how wrong was I nothing changed Arsenal are still a cheap club signing other club’s rejects.
Watkins is not coming to Arsenal.
Source Reggie?
Ken1945,
Tomato or brown. 😂🤣👍
Come on your making it to easy Ken.🤣😂👍
Slow clap lol
I know your spelling is sometimes confusing Derek (as is mine of course) but source and sauce?
You do get in a pickle sometimes!!
Ken1945,
I’m being heckled by Dan, he’s giving me a slow hand clap.😂🤣👍
Ken1945, you’re comedic responses are coming along nicely, keep up the good work. 👍
My bro did same joke one
He sent me a football rumour
So I said what are your sources and he sent picture of some mayonnaise lol
Dan,
😂👍