Ollie Watkins is ‘open’ to joining Arsenal before the transfer deadline if Aston Villa back down and agree a deal with the Gunners. The future of England striker Watkins looks set to be one of the biggest talking points in the final few days of the transfer window after he was the subject of a big-money offer from Arsenal.

Aston Villa rejected a bid from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins; Jhon Duran set to complete move to Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr in coming days which would leave Watkins as only striker at Villa; Watkins has scored 10 goals in 23 games for Villa in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal face an uphill battle in their bid to sign Ollie Watkins, with Aston Villa unwilling to lose both the England striker and Jhon Duran before Monday’s transfer deadline. The Gunners want to sign a forward in the final days of the window and have had an approach for Watkins turned down.