Home SPORTS Aston Villa Reject £60m Arsenal Bid for Ollie Watkins, Says Unai Emery

Aston Villa Reject £60m Arsenal Bid for Ollie Watkins, Says Unai Emery

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has rejected a £60m bid from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins, insisting the player is not for sale after helping Villa reach the Champions League last 16.



Unai Emery has made it clear that Aston Villa will not sell Ollie Watkins, despite a reported £60 million bid from Arsenal just hours before their crucial Champions League match against Celtic. Watkins played a key role in helping his team reach the Champions League last 16, scoring a vital goal in their 4-2 win at Villa Park.


Aston Villa survived a scare against Celtic, coming from behind to win 4-2 and seal automatic qualification to the last 16. Morgan Rogers scored a double in the first five minutes, but Adam Idah netted twice just before half-time to level the score. Watkins' clinical second-half strike restored Villa's advantage, and although he missed a penalty later on, Rogers completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to ensure Villa's progression.


Watkins' goal was a testament to his focus, despite the speculation surrounding his future. Emery's insistence that Villa will not sell the England striker is a clear indication of his importance to the team. With Watkins leading the line, Villa can look forward to their Champions League campaign with renewed optimism.


The Colombian striker has mostly been used as a substitute by Emery, despite delivering some impressive performances this term.


Celtic Face Daunting Task in Champions League Playoffs

Unai Emery has left the door open for Jhon Duran's potential departure from Aston Villa, amid reports of a £64 million deal. When asked about Duran's future, Emery said: “I don't know if Jhon Duran is leaving but if he is, it is good news for us because he is leaving because it is good money.” Emery emphasized that nothing is certain until the transfer is complete, stating: “Tomorrow or Friday we can talk about the transfer. Until everything is done I don't want to speak, because in football everything can happen.”




Celtic's Champions League campaign will continue in the playoff round, where they will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. Manager Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead, saying: “We know it's either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the next round, so that'll be a huge challenge.” Despite the daunting opponent, Rodgers expressed pride in his team's accomplishment, adding: ”It's what the players deserve for what they've given over the course of the eight games.”




Rodgers believes his team is capable of causing an upset, stating: “We're building confidence and showing we're a team that can play and make it difficult for the top teams.” Celtic's qualification for the knockout stages marks a significant milestone, their first in 12 years. Rodgers noted: “Scotland gets a wee bit of stick in its football. You can clearly see we have teams who have courage to play.” He attributed their success to pride, saying: “The word that strikes me at the moment is pride. We're nowhere near the resource levels of teams in the Premier League, but we can still be competitive.”
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