Ollie Watkins hasn’t had the best second season at Aston Villa and has been linked with a move away from the Midlands, so his future may be in doubt this summer.
The 26-year-old is reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal and West Ham United and could be tempted by the lure of European football next season, but Steven Gerrard isn’t likely to let him go as he’s too valuable.
Watkins joined Villa on a five-year deal from Brentford in 2020 and has gone on to make 71 appearances in all competitions, scoring 25 goals with six assists. The England international impressed in his debut campaign, bagging 14 goals with five assists in 37 Premier League games, but he only has nine in 30 this time round.
He’s finishing this season stronger, however, with four goals in his last nine league appearances. Gerrard was full of praise for Watkins in February and has started him in 28 of Villa’s 33 league games this campaign, so a summer sale makes little sense.
Watkins has admitted being ‘inconsistent’ throughout the 2021/22 season, so he’s under no illusions. That being said, he’s created 30 chances, had 34 successful dribbles and won 34 freekicks for Villa while still being top goalscorer, so Gerrard will recognise his worth.
Paul Brown of the Daily Star told Give Me Sport that it would take a large bid for Gerrard to upset the fans by selling Watkins and he isn’t wrong. It’s hard to see him leaving this summer.
