Aston Villa have rejected an method from Arsenal for England striker Ollie Watkins.
Sources confirmed to BBC Sport the Gunners made their enquiry for the 29-year-old on Monday.
Studies of a £60m Arsenal bid first surfaced simply hours earlier than Aston Villa’s Champions League win over Celtic on Wednesday night time at Villa Park.
Watkins began and scored, but additionally slipped to overlook a weird penalty within the second half.
Villa sources say they don’t have any intention of permitting Watkins to depart, particularly with continued hypothesis linking fellow striker Jhon Duran with a transfer to Saudi Arabia membership Al Nassr.
Sources additionally instructed BBC Sport that Villa are sad with the timing of the method, which got here within the build-up to a key Champions League fixture and every week earlier than January’s switch deadline day.
It isn’t clear if Arsenal will return with additional presents earlier than Monday’s 23:00 GMT deadline.
Talking after the 4-2 win over Celtic, Villa supervisor Unai Emery stated he “didn’t know” if Duran was leaving however – referencing a reported bid from a Saudi Professional League membership – he stated: “If he is leaving it is excellent news for us as a result of they’re paying good cash and we developed him in two years”.
On Watkins, Emery added: “I do not need. Each participant might be available in the market in case it is good for the participant, the membership and the workforce. However to get this deal we’re going to be very demanding as effectively and Watkins is our striker.”
Requested concerning the timing of Arsenal’s method, Emery replied: “For me it would not matter… it is most necessary how the gamers reply. We’ve a variety of hypothesis across the gamers within the squad however they’re exhibiting us they’re mature and accountable.”
