Arsenal director Edu has reportedly held talks with the agent of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ahead of potential move to the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old enjoyed his best top-flight campaign for the Second City club in terms of goals last term, managing to net 15 times in 37 Premier League appearances.
Watkins made the switch to Villa Park from Brentford in September 2020, and has since scored 47 goals in 127 matches across all competitions for Unai Emery's men.
The forward made his debut in European club football last Thursday, playing 29 minutes of Villa's Europa Conference League defeat at Polish outfit Legia Warsaw.
According to FootballTransfers, Arsenal's sporting director Edu has been in contact with the representatives of Watkins over a possible switch to North London in the New Year.
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The seven-time England international is currently represented by Two Touch - an agency owned by former Gunners player Paulo Vernazza, who featured for the club during the late 1990s.
A winter move to the Emirates for Watkins could allegedly prove to be challenging, however, neither the player or Arsenal are ruling out a switch just yet.
It is understood that Villa are very keen on committing the forward's long-term future in the Second City and are in the process of negotiating fresh terms with the former Exeter City man.
Watkins is reportedly demanding a new five-year deal at Villa Park, including a significant increase in pay which would see him earn over £150,000 per week at the West Midlands side.
It is believed that the Gunners are also considering a move for Brentford's Ivan Toney in the January window, however it is said that Mikel Arteta is favouring a deal for Watkins.
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The report claims that there are doubts over whether Toney would adapt well to Arsenal's style of play, with the Gunners looking to challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.
There are also said to be serious reservations over spending £60m on a striker who may not be fully fit if he arrived at the Emirates in the New Year.
Toney is currently serving an eight-month suspension for breaking Football Association betting rules, meaning that he has not played for Thomas Frank's Bees since their 1-0 loss at Liverpool on May 6.
Chelsea are said to be interested in both Toney and Watkins alongside their London rivals, with the Blues struggling to find the net at the start of the 2023-24 term, scoring just five times in six league matches.
Carter White
