Jamie Carragher has said that Aston Villa ‘offered’ Ollie Watkins to Arsenal during the January transfer window.
Arsenal saw an offer rejected for Watkins late in the transfer window, as the Gunners sought to sign a striker. Watkins’ future is again in doubt with the 29-year-old having lost his place as an automatic starter at Villa Park.
After scoring in the recent win over Newcastle, Watkins said he was ‘fuming’ with a lack of involvement during the club’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games. I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing – I let him [Unai Emery] know that,” Watkins told Sky Sports.
“He’s the manager, you have to respect his decision, [but] I am not one of these players happy to sit on the bench.
“It is something I have not experienced before, to miss out on the biggest stage. I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games.”
Former Liverpool defender Carragher has now revealed that he was informed that it was Aston Villa leading talk of a potential transfer in January. He said The Villans offered Watkins to Arsenal as the club sought to make a big sale for PSR reasons.
“When you talk about Arsenal going for him, someone told me Villa offered him to Arsenal,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Stick to Football podcast.
“I know that, actually. Villa offered him to Arsenal before (Jhon) Duran went (to Al Nassr).
“I don’t think it was Arsenal phoning Villa saying ‘we want to sign him’.”
“What, and Arsenal said no to him!?” 😮
Carra reveals Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins was offered to Arsenal in January… 👀 pic.twitter.com/tjNCYDRrXV
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) April 24, 2025
Carragher was then asked by Gary Neville why the deal failed to materialise and added: “Because they didn’t offer enough money, whatever it was, £50m or £60m. What I’m saying is that if I know that I’m sure is agent knows that.”
It was then pointed out by Roy Keane that Villa needed to recoup funds after spending heavily in recent transfer windows.
Carragher continued: “Really when you think about it in an ideal world you probably sell Watkins and keep Duran, because he’s the younger player. He’s only 21 but obviously they did the deal (with Al Nassr).
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