Ollie Watkins

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He's open to listen to offers was the exclusive from that Romano fella on Thursday.

To be honest that’d make sense. We need to show him we’re the offer to take.

True but this has been dragging on since the end of last season and his existing contract has what, another season on it? No way would I let him go in January, he starts pretty much every game no matter him form, has a manager that believes in him and now has a striking partner who he seems very happy to be playing with.

I get the Arsenal temptation, he and all his family are fans and more than that, his agent can smell the money of a big transfer fee. He should reflect on what Villa have given him and show a bit of respect. We've been extremely patient and built this team to suit his game. If he still wants to leave, he can but only next summer and in the mean time he can sign a new contract. In case he hasn't noticed, we're not a charity.

[Olneythelonely]

No matter what Ollie is not a top 6 striker.  Not clinical enough.  He reminds me goal wise like a Tony Cottee does it in spurts.  its consistency that you need to be held up as a top top striker though.

No matter what? Really? No matter what?

That seems to be more of a you issue, than a Watkins one.

He’s not a top 6 striker, yet he’s just scored a hat trick against the 4th place team, propelling us into 5th.

Strange take.

[PeterWithesShin]

Currently in PL games this season he's joint 4th highest scorer, joint 5th highest assists and joint 2nd for goals and assists combined behind only Haaland.

[Goldenballs]

It'll be a bit wank if he wants to leave us, we got rid of Ings and made him automatic first choice regardless of his long runs without scoring.

It'll be another 2 steps back. Hopefully he signs ASAP.

[andyh]

We have to keep him.
He’s our Rachel Daley !

[PeterWithesShin]

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/1708104232144957897

[Mellin]

Watkins is a very good player and a big part of why we're one of the best sides in the league at moment, but he's not irreplaceable. If he wants to go, it's obviously a transfer we'll have to get right, which we may or may not, but I'm not wetting the bed at the thought of him leaving.

Starting to feel like a red flag, but hope he signs. Nice lad and worth a lot to us.

[Dante Lavelli]

Do you reckon his pay would be back-dated if he signed the contract that’s been on the table since the summer?

[KevinGage]

Happy to see him stay and improve further.  But won't be burning the stands down at VP if he leaves.

We should be looking at north of £60 million for him if he does want to bail.

He'll be at the club four years this summer, so if he gets a serious offer from Arsenal or Chelsea etc and wants to go, it might be one of those weird deals that suits all parties.

[olaftab]

Do you reckon his pay would be back-dated if he signed the contract that’s been on the table since the summer?

As it's normal upon signature a start date and an end date will be inserted for new liability.

[AV84]

Signing a new deal wouldn’t necessarily mean he was planning on staying long term though, would it? He could sign a contract extension now and still leave next summer, we'd probably just get more for him.

[N'ZMAV]

I take the odd photo, because I like taking them, and it serves as a memory of the game. I get a shot of the line up and the scoreboard at the end, and one or two during the game too.

That's fair enough, it's the people holding their camera out videoing every single corner and free kick that piss me off.

it’s worse at gigs.

[N'ZMAV]

Any decent striker should score loads in this sort of setup and tactic. Watkins is that.

[Ian.]

Any decent striker should score loads in this sort of setup and tactic. Watkins is that.

That’s the big thing with Watkins, he works the lines so well, his pressing and his general movement for others is crucial to how we play.

[Gareth]

No matter what Ollie is not a top 6 striker.  Not clinical enough.  He reminds me goal wise like a Tony Cottee does it in spurts.  its consistency that you need to be held up as a top top striker though.

2022-2023 season Ollie got 15 Prem goals, the same as Arsenals top scorer who finished 2nd and 5 more than Brightons top scorer who finished top 6.

Fortunately we don’t all completely write him off with statements like ‘no matter what….’ - he will continue to develop…comparison to Cottee is way way off for me, Cottee offered very little if he wasn’t in the box but was decent finisher, Ollie is a massive part of how we play with his press and link up play and finding negativity after he has bagged a hat trick is a different take.