Unai Emery has firmly stated that Aston Villa will not sell Ollie Watkins, despite Arsenal reportedly offering £60 million ($74 million) for the England striker just hours before he helped Villa reach the Champions League last 16.
Villa triumphed 4-2 over Celtic at Villa Park to secure automatic qualification, finishing eighth in the league phase. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring with a quick brace, but Celtic's Adam Idah scored twice in just over two minutes to equalize before halftime.
Watkins, unfazed by the transfer rumors, put Villa back in the lead with a clinical second-half strike. Although he missed a penalty later, Rogers sealed the win with a stoppage-time hat-trick, sending Villa through without the need for a playoff.
Reports following the match indicated that Villa had rejected Arsenal's bid, and Emery offered no encouragement for the Gunners to increase their offer for a player who has scored 11 goals in 32 appearances this season.
“Watkins is our striker. I know you want to ask about it, but I told you, today is not the day,” said a visibly frustrated Emery.
Arsenal is in search of a striker after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending knee injury. If Watkins stays at Villa beyond the transfer window, it is likely that Jhon Duran, who has mainly been used as a substitute, will leave for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
When asked about Duran’s future, Emery did not rule out a sale, with a potential £64 million deal on the table. “I don’t know if Jhon Duran is leaving, but if he is, it’s good news for us because he’s leaving for good money,” Emery said.
The manager added, “Until everything is done, I don’t want to speak. The club is working and trying to compete in the transfer window because we need players. Some can leave, but it’s not the time to talk about it.”
Celtic, who had already secured a play-off spot after their victory over Young Boys, are now set to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round. Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the tough task ahead but believes his team has the potential to upset one of the giants.
“It’s a huge challenge, but it’s what the players deserve for what they’ve given over the course of the eight games,” Rodgers said. “We’re building confidence, and we’re showing we can compete and make it difficult for the top teams.”
This marks Celtic’s first appearance in the knock-out stages in 12 years, despite a heavy 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in October. Rodgers expressed pride in his team’s resilience, noting, “We may not have the resources of Premier League clubs, but we’re still competitive.”
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