Reports emerging from the January transfer window have sent shockwaves through the Aston Villa fanbase, suggesting the club could be willing to part with a key attacking asset for a surprisingly low fee.
The Bombshell January Update
According to a sensational claim from Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, Aston Villa's hierarchy would consider cashing in on Ollie Watkins if they receive an offer in the region of £35 million. This news comes as a stark contrast to the club's stance just a year ago.
In January 2025, Villa firmly resisted late interest from Arsenal, who were believed to have tabled bids of around £50 million for the England international. That resistance came at a critical time, with fellow striker Jhon Duran also close to an exit, leaving manager Unai Emery desperate to avoid losing both forwards in one window.
Contrasting Narratives and Past Interest
The situation has been clouded by contrasting narratives. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told The Overlap that Villa were more open to a sale than publicly admitted. "Someone told me that Aston Villa offered him to Arsenal," Carragher stated. "I know that. I don't think it was Arsenal phoning Villa saying they want to sign him."
Carragher suggested the deal didn't materialise because Arsenal's financial offer wasn't deemed sufficient, and he speculated that Villa's need to balance the books after heavy spending made Watkins a potential sale. "In an ideal world, you probably would sell Ollie Watkins and keep Jhon Duran because he is the younger player – he is only 21," he added.
Ultimately, Villa did sell Duran, who completed a switch to Saudi Arabia, while Watkins remained as the club's primary striker, competing with Marcus Rashford for a starting spot.
Why a £35m Sale Makes No Sense for Villa
From a sporting and financial perspective, sanctioning a mid-season sale of Watkins for the reported fee would represent a monumental error for Aston Villa.
While the 29-year-old is not currently enjoying his most prolific season, with just three goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, his quality and importance are undeniable. He recently reminded everyone of his threat by scoring a brace against Brighton. His overall contribution since his £28m (rising to £33m) move from Brentford has been exceptional.
Watkins is Aston Villa's highest goalscorer of the Premier League era and has been instrumental in the club's recent success, helping them to European qualification on three occasions and spearheading last season's runs to the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League quarter-final. Last term alone, he registered 24 goal contributions (16 goals and eight assists) in 38 games.
Critically, the mooted £35m valuation appears significantly undervalued. With two and a half years remaining on his contract until 2028, Villa hold a strong negotiating position. For context, Yoane Wissa moved to Newcastle United for £55m at the same age and with less Premier League experience, albeit in the final year of his deal.
Selling their established, proven goalscorer in January would severely dent Villa's ambitions for the second half of the season and with a World Cup on the horizon, Watkins has every motivation to rediscover his top form. For the foreseeable future, he should remain Villa's talisman, not a player they consider offloading for a cut-price fee.
