Aston Villa concern raised over Ollie Watkins amid Liverpool transfer latest

Don Goodman says it is understandable that Aston Villa fans are “concerned” about possibly losing star man Ollie Watkins this summer.

Watkins is coming off the back of another superb season in which he scored 19 goals and assisted 13 more in 37 Premier League games.

The England international has been linked with a number of other top-flight clubs, including Liverpool [The Sun, 29 May].

Goodman can understand the speculation surrounding Watkins’ future given his ability to both score and assist regularly.

“As last season went on, it became clear there were several clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea potentially interested – they all need a number nine,” Goodman told Villa News.

“His form has been amazing and there’s obviously a lot of big clubs that do need an out-and-out striker, so I’m not surprised in the slightest he’s being linked with others given this has been the season of his life in terms of both goals, assists and his general all-around play.

“He doesn’t half tick a lot of boxes and I’d be quietly concerned if I was a Villa fan because number nines in that mould are a dying breed – there are not many about. Those who do fit a similar mould, like Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane, are now in their 30s.”

Aston Villa must reject all Ollie Watkins offers

For all the talk of Watkins being wanted by Liverpool, Chelsea and others, there has been no word of any sort of an official approach being made yet.

That could change once the transfer window opens and progresses, of course, but as of now there is no decision for Aston Villa to make.

Even if a bid is tabled, however, the Villans must turn it down unless it is a quite frankly ridiculous amount – £100million-plus, say.

Villa’s need to raise funds is well documented, but hopefully the likely sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus can go a long way to resolving that.

For while there are certain players Unai Emery can replace, albeit reluctantly, others are simply irreplaceable.

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