Unai Emery has said strikers Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins being wanted by other clubs is a sign of Aston Villa’s recent successes.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Duran is expected to undergo a medical in London on Thursday ahead of a proposed permanent transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. A deal worth €77million (£64.5m) plus add-ons has been agreed between the clubs for the 21-year-old Colombia international.
Meanwhile, Watkins is a target for Arsenal but the England international is viewed by Villa as an integral part of their plans.
Arsenal made an approach for the 29-year-old on Monday and it was quickly rebuffed.
“We are in the eyes of other strong teams and other strong countries like Saudi Arabia,” Emery said after Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Celtic, which booked Villa’s place in the top eight and means they avoided a two-legged play-off ahead of the round of 16.
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“I don’t know exactly until everything is done until Duran is leaving or not, but if Duran is leaving it is good for us, because they are paying good money and we have developed good players in two years and getting a good offer.”
Emery described Duran as a “fantastic potential player” and added: “I was always trying to get him with my advice. I was so, so close with him, trying to work with him for his development.
“But the player has their own objective, own ambition and sometimes impassioned. And if he is leaving it is because he prefers to do another way in his career.”
GO DEEPER
Aston Villa’s Duran expected to undergo medical ahead of €77m Al Nassr transfer
On Watkins, Emery added: “I don’t want him to be sold. it is good new to have offers from other clubs. It is good, but I don’t want him to leave. We want to keep our objectives through the players we have in the squad.
“Every player can be in the market in case its good for the player, club and the team. But to get this deal, of course we are going to be very demanding and Watkins is our striker.”
Villa return to action with a Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
(Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
