Villa Secures Champions League Knockouts Amid Transfer Speculation
Aston Villa confirmed their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a 4-2 victory over Celtic, thanks to a hat trick from Morgan Rogers and a goal from Ollie Watkins. However, post-match discussions were dominated by transfer rumors surrounding Villa’s two strikers.
Arsenal’s Bid for Watkins Rejected
Shortly before kick-off, sources told ESPN that Arsenal had submitted a bid for Ollie Watkins, which was rejected by Aston Villa. Speaking after the match, manager Unai Emery made his stance clear:
“I don’t want [him to leave]. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad. Every player can be in the market if it benefits the player, club, and team, but to finalize such a deal, we have to be very demanding. Ollie Watkins is our striker.”
Watkins delivered a strong performance against Celtic, scoring Villa’s crucial third goal in the 60th minute. However, he missed a penalty just a minute later, slipping and sending the ball over the bar. Despite this, he remained a constant attacking threat, with only Kasper Schmeichel’s heroics preventing him from adding more to his tally.
Duran Set for Al Nassr Move
Meanwhile, The Athletic reported that Jhon Duran is on the verge of joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr for approximately €77 million ($80M). The young forward remained on the bench throughout the game and was later seen in the tunnel, seemingly bidding farewell to staff and teammates.
When asked about Duran’s potential departure, Emery acknowledged the reality of modern football and Villa’s growing reputation:
“The club is working. We have to be intelligent and competitive. We are now on the radar of strong teams from strong leagues like Saudi Arabia. It’s something I can feel proud of because it shows we are improving and attracting interest.
Our challenge is to maintain our structure intelligently. Sometimes, selling players is necessary, but the key is replacing them with top-quality talent and continuing to develop those we have.”
Balancing Growth and Stability
Emery’s comments reflect Aston Villa’s ambitions balancing financial decisions with their sporting goals. While Watkins remains central to the team, Duran’s sale represents an opportunity to reinvest and strengthen.
As Villa marches into the Champions League knockouts, their squad stability in the January transfer window could be crucial in determining their long-term success.
