EXCLUSIVE: Ollie Watkins in talks with Aston Villa over a new contract to make him one of their top earners after his stunning goalscoring impressed boss Unai Emery
- Ollie Watkins joined Aston Villa from Brentford in 2020 for around £30 million
- Since Unai Emery took over, the Villans have won 16 points out of a total of 18
- Emery attributes Watkins’ stunning form to a meeting they had after his arrival
Ollie Watkins is in talks with Aston Villa over a new contract as his superb form in front of goal has the club dreaming of European football.
The striker is one of the Premier League’s formatives having scored eight goals in his last 10 games and will be sure to add to the list when Villa face Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday.
The 27-year-old still has two years left on the five-year deal he signed when he joined Villa from Brentford in September 2020 for around £30 million. Any new arrangement would propel Watkins into Villa’s top earner league alongside Philippe Coutinho, Emi Martinez and Tyrone Mings.
Villa have proven themselves as shrewd negotiators in the past and while there will certainly be interest in Watkins from elsewhere, boss Unai Emery has gotten the best out of him and believes Watkins will only get better under his leadership.
Emery said: “The striker is very important to me. I spoke with [Watkins] in the beginning about the relationship here. I told him I have your best interests at heart and how he is; practice, be humble to improve. This is the way.
Ollie Watkins is in talks with Aston Villa over a new contract at the club that will see him among their top earners
The England striker has scored eight goals in his last 10 and is one of only three players to score more than 10 goals in the previous three seasons.
He flourished under Unai Emery and his goals have spearheaded Villa’s European rise
“Then he has a great career ahead of him in his future. It’s also very important to try to talk about other players, because he’s not going to score if his teammates don’t help him.
“Ollie Watkins is very important to us. Not only does he score, but he puts in effort every day, trying to add more work and watch his clips.
“He’s the first defense in our idea, he’s trying to be consistent. It works very well with the high pressing. He tries to fight with the defenders. He scores and he adds the best quality as a striker – the goal.’
When Emery took charge last autumn, Villa were in danger of relegation, but now they are well positioned for their first top 10 finish since 2011, at least.
They have 16 points from a total of 18 but now face a tough run-in, Newcastle, Brentford, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Brighton play before the end of the season.