Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker, has recently unveiled details of a confidential conversation with Declan Rice amidst ongoing transfer speculations linking him to Arsenal. The revelation comes as Arsenal is on the hunt for a new forward.
Watkins has been delivering an impressive performance for Aston Villa this season. His statistics speak volumes about his form - 19 goals and 12 assists in just 34 Premier League matches. This fantastic run of form has not gone unnoticed, with several voices urging Arsenal to consider signing him in the upcoming transfer window.
Watkins already favourite of many Arsenal legends for summer move
Theo Walcott, former Arsenal player, recently suggested that his old club should sign Watkins. He went as far as comparing him to Thierry Henry, one of Arsenal's greatest players. This recommendation came after Mikael Silvestre expressed his preference for Watkins over Brentford star Ivan Toney who was previously targeted by Arsenal in January.
Watkins' talent also caught the attention of Thierry Henry himself back in March when he praised the striker's skills and performance. It seems that Watkins is not only making waves within his own team but also impressing legends from other clubs.
The secret chat with Declan Rice
Intriguingly enough, it wasn't all about transfers during Watkins' secret chat with Arsenal midfielder Rice. Instead of discussing potential moves to North London or any other transfer-related topics, they focused on Aston Villa’s chances at Europa Conference League glory - a trophy which Rice won last term while playing for West Ham United.
Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker, said:
‘I spoke to Dec (Declan Rice) at England. [He was] confident that we’re going to win it. We’re confident ourselves but you never know what’s going to happen. You never know with these teams. Lille put us under a lot of pressure and it’s going to be difficult but I think we have got the squad to do it.’
Ahead of Villa’s semi-final clash against Olympiacos in Europa Conference League competition, it appears that their focus remains firmly on achieving success this season rather than getting distracted by summer transfer talks.
Ollie Watkins also expressed his admiration for one of Arsenal’s biggest heroes during the conversation. As a 28-year-old Englishman, he has grown up watching and admiring the skills of some of the greatest players in English football history.
Ollie Watkins added:
‘My idol was Thierry Henry. I always felt when he cut inside from the left and bending it in, that was always… I scored one against Luton! But Henry did it frequently. I’m not on that level yet. But he’s someone I wanted to be like. I have my own style of how I play, but growing up he was the main man.
While transfer talks continue to swirl around Watkins, it is clear that his primary focus remains on delivering top-notch performances for Aston Villa and potentially leading them to Europa Conference League glory. Whether or not he will make a move to Arsenal remains uncertain, but what is clear is that Watkins' talent and potential have caught the attention of many within the football world.
