BREAKING NEWS: “I’ve reached a personal agreement to join Arsenal, but the transfer is pending until they sell two players. I can’t work alongside those players,” stated Arsenal’s January target, revealing a surprising condition for the deal.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly eyeing Aston Villa’s striker Ollie Watkins ahead of the January transfer window. Watkins, 27, has drawn significant attention following a stellar 2022/23 Premier League season, where his 15 goals helped Aston Villa qualify for European football for the first time in over a decade. His strong performances have continued into the current season, with one goal and two assists so far.

Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has expressed a strong desire to retain Watkins. Emery recently confirmed in a press conference that the club is in talks with the player’s representatives about extending his contract, stating, “I am working about it. We are in touch.” However, despite opening contract negotiations back in May, no agreement has been reached yet, sparking interest from Premier League clubs.

Reports suggest that Arsenal and Chelsea are particularly interested in acquiring Watkins, with both clubs considering making bids in January.

Aston Villa, however, values their star forward highly, with a reported price tag of around £60 million. Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, is said to have initiated discussions with Watkins’ agent, Paulo Vernazza, regarding a potential move to the Emirates Stadium.

While Arsenal seems to be leading the pursuit, Chelsea is also keen on securing Watkins’ services. Additionally, AC Milan has shown interest in the striker, eyeing him as a potential replacement for veteran Olivier Giroud.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea have compelling reasons to pursue Watkins. Arsenal has started the season strongly, winning four of their first six league games, but critics argue that the team lacks a consistent goal-scoring center-forward, which could undermine their title ambitions. Watkins could provide the offensive edge they need.

Chelsea, on the other hand, has struggled under Mauricio Pochettino, sitting 14th in the table after collecting only five points from their opening six games.

Goal-scoring has been a major problem for the Blues, with just five goals in six matches. New signing Nicolas Jackson has only scored once, making Watkins’ proven Premier League experience an appealing solution to Chelsea’s attacking woes.

As the January transfer window approaches, Watkins’ future at Aston Villa may hinge on whether the club can secure a new contract with him. If not, both Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to make concrete bids for the striker, making him a top target in the upcoming window.