Ollie Watkins

[Bobby Boy]

That's that then. Ollie stays.

Fine news.

[LeeB]

That's two competitors bought in since he joined that he's waved back out of the door, fair play.

[Chris_Jephcott]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

[Somniloquism]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

Nope.

[LeeB]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

No, but I do entertain the possibility of the reverse, I always thought there was an element of contempt from Duran to Watkins, not through anything personal just because he was in front of him in the pecking order.

[paul_e]

As a few of us said, he was never going anywhere.

[Drummond]

I think that's Duran and anyone else ....

[Exeter 77]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

I can't imagine Ollie issuing an ultimatum but I wouldn't have thought he was particularly close to Duran either. I can imagine Duran doing the ultimatum thing though.

[PaulTheVillan]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

I can't imagine Ollie issuing an ultimatum but I wouldn't have thought he was particularly close to Duran either. I can imagine Duran doing the ultimatum thing though.

Was just about to comment with the same thing.

[PhilVill]

He's the main man, no doubt about that. I do think the club are happy to see the back of big Jhon mind you, a bit too much of a handful.

[Villafirst]

I knew Ollie would commit to Villa. He's not the sort to force a move. Good news! We still need to get another striker in plus a new centre back....

[Drummond]

More from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins:

Emery said: "Yes, he is happy to stay. We asked him how he is feeling every day and year he is being here with Villa and he is happy here."

"The commitment of Ollie Watkins with us is a huge commitment. He appreciates a lot how Villa was always supporting him and helping him, when we joined here two years ago how we were working with him and getting the best of him.

"Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa in the last years. I am speaking with him a lot, he is always adapting with every circumstances we have and of course when some teams calling us being interested in the players it’s very good for us and the players.

"Some players prefer to leave and some accept to stay here and commit with our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins."

[paul_e]

He's the main man, no doubt about that. I do think the club are happy to see the back of big Jhon mind you, a bit too much of a handful.

I get the feeling the club loved the player but didn't like the person very much.

[Chris_Jephcott]

As much as I can’t see Ollie doing it, somebody somewhere would have given Arsenal a nod that the bid might be entertained. It was potentially a way of speeding up Duran’s exit though - if that was part of agenda all along from Duran’s camp.

Ollie will now go on and have a fantastic remainder of the season. I am delighted he’s staying - Ollie’s impact on the team cannot be underestimated.

[Brend'Watkins]

Does anyone else get a strange feeling that Ollie basically didn’t get on with Duran and issued a “him or me” ultimatum?

I'd say very few players got on with him.