January 31st 2025.
Football legend Alan Shearer has expressed his confusion over Arsenal's transfer strategy. He criticized the team for their lack of activity in the transfer market and believes they have made a last-ditch attempt to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa out of desperation.
The Gunners are racing against time to secure a new forward before the transfer deadline after their initial bid of £45 million was swiftly rejected by Villa earlier this week. Despite securing a spot in the top eight of the Champions League, Arsenal manager Unai Emery remains adamant that Watkins will not be leaving, especially after allowing Jhon Duran to move to Saudi Arabia.
When asked if he can guarantee Watkins will stay, Emery replied, "I don't want to make any promises. It's always good to have offers from other clubs, but our focus is on achieving our sporting objectives with the players we have in our squad. If a deal is beneficial for both the player and the club, then we will consider it. However, Watkins is an important part of our team and we intend to keep him."
Despite Watkins' desire to join his childhood club, it seems unlikely that his wish will be granted before the deadline on Monday night. If Arsenal fails to secure his signing or an alternative, the pressure will only increase on the already overworked Kai Havertz. Shearer finds it hard to understand why Arsenal has waited until the last minute to make a move in the transfer market.
In an interview with Betfair, he stated, "It's highly unlikely that Arsenal will be able to sign Ollie Watkins now. They had the opportunity to make a good deal, but instead, they chose to let Duran go. It was quite sneaky of them to do it on the afternoon of a Champions League game, especially considering they had the entire month to make a move. They have known for months that they need a new striker, so it's not a sudden realization."
Shearer believes that Arsenal is now in panic mode and wonders why it has taken them so long to address their need for a center forward. Despite injuries to Saka and Jesus, he believes that Arsenal needed a striker even before the injuries occurred. He added, "It's surprising that it took them this long to make a move. Watkins is the type of player who could make a difference for them. He is a ready-made player, but it's clear that Villa is not willing to sell him."
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