Ollie Watkins

[Rigadon]

If Watkins goes it will be his decision.  If he goes he can fuck off forever more. 

[ozzjim]

I still think it’s possible that Watkins goes, if the money is right but more importantly if Watkins wants to go, he will go.
If it was not Arsenal I would be pretty confident he will stay but this for him could be his dream move.
I just hope we have a plan b and c.

Agreed.

I'm not 100% confident he is here when that window shuts. If Arsenal get anywhere north of £75m I think we could sell still, but only if Ollie wants to go. I think we all have different perspectives on him as a player, but beneath that I think he's probably one of the most universally loved we've ever had as a person. It would be a horrible sight to see him go, but as an Arsenal fan if he wanted the move he's one player I wouldn't be annoyed at or begrudge the move.

[Rigadon]

You wouldn’t begrudge it?  I would.  Mid season when our only other centre forward is also leaving? You’re more forgiving (and probably less hungover!) than me. 

[Mister E]

Villa will not sell both strikers now.
An inconceivable act of self-harm when we're now in the last 16 of the ECL.

[Chris_Jephcott]

All I hope is that we have a decent plan B in place in case that bid comes back with £70 million today.

I’d be gutted to see Ollie go. He’s not the most natural finisher, and relies so much on confidence, but his workrate, his passion, what he does for the team are much more than just being a typical number 9.

I’m not convinced we’ll keep him and it’ll be a huge loss to us.

[LeeB]

If you think we'd sell both, now, you must be mental.

[Smithy]

You wouldn’t begrudge it?  I would.  Mid season when our only other centre forward is also leaving? You’re more forgiving (and probably less hungover!) than me. 

The club can say no.  If he goes, he ONLY goes with the club's blessing.  The club are responsible for the team.

I'd hate to see him go, but having signed a new contract not that long ago, there is no version of events where Ollie "forces" a move.  If he goes (and I don't think he will), it will be because the club has decided they can do better with the money.

[Rigadon]

As ever, the words ‘release’ and ‘clause’ are important.  The club will absolutely not want to sell Watkins.  Why are Arsenal trying then?

[tomd2103]

I still think it’s possible that Watkins goes, if the money is right but more importantly if Watkins wants to go, he will go.
If it was not Arsenal I would be pretty confident he will stay but this for him could be his dream move.
I just hope we have a plan b and c.

If Duran wasn't going, then I could see us selling if the right price came in.  He's 30 this year and he might fancy a new challenge after being with us for a number of years.   

He would be difficult to replace though and like others have said, I just don't see a scenario where we sell both in this window.

[Le Lapin]

He'll be a bench warmer when the Arsenal forwards are back off injury. He'd be far better to stick with us and see where it takes him. It would be sending out an odd signal by the club to get rid of some our most valuable players in January.

[DB]

As ever, the words ‘release’ and ‘clause’ are important.  The club will absolutely not want to sell Watkins.  Why are Arsenal trying then?

Appease their fans. Top strikers are like gold-dust...and we (at the moment) have 2. No way we would sell both.

[Dave]

He'll be a bench warmer when the Arsenal forwards are back off injury. He'd be far better to stick with us and see where it takes him.

He would immediately become Arsenal’s best, and first-choice striker.

[Chris_Jephcott]

Fabrizio from the last couple of minutes:

Aston Villa are determined to reject new approach from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins.

Unai Emery wants Ollie to stay and Villa didn’t like amount of first bid (£60m), also timing of the leaks ahead of UCL game.

#AVFC are focused on Jhon Durán to be sold to Al Nassr now.

[DB]

Fabrizio from the last couple of minutes:

Aston Villa are determined to reject new approach from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins.

Unai Emery wants Ollie to stay and Villa didn’t like amount of first bid (£60m), also timing of the leaks ahead of UCL game.

#AVFC are focused on Jhon Durán to be sold to Al Nassr now.

More brilliant insight from him....

[Olneythelonely]

I love him, but his finishing was shit tonight. The dink he should have slotted either side. The pen was crap and the other chance Schmeichel batted away  should have been slotted. He seems to have lost his composure. For £75 million I'd sell. You have to sell at the right time.

True love.