Leeds United

Leeds United: Ollie Watkins now hoping to stay at Aston Villa amid Whites interest

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Image for Leeds United: Ollie Watkins now hoping to stay at Aston Villa amid Whites interest

Journalist Dean Jones has said that Leeds United target Ollie Watkins now wants to stay at his current club.

According to The Express, Leeds are interested in a move for the striker, who was thought to be on the transfer list at Aston Villa.

Football Insider claimed in August that Villa were prepared to sell the 26-year-old amid a ‘tense’ relationship with then-manager Steven Gerrard. 

The former Brentford man had scored just once under Gerrard before netting in the first game following the change in the dugout.

Jones has now told GiveMeSport that the £75k-per-week ace isn’t looking to move on.

He said: “As soon as [Steven] Gerrard is gone, Watkins is back on the goal trail.

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“He doesn’t want to leave Aston Villa, ultimately he’ll see this as a clean slate for him and I don’t think Leeds will be able to get him.”

TIF Thoughts on Jones’ comments…

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It will no doubt come as a blow to Leeds’ recruitment plans if they are unable to land a Premier League-proven goalscorer.

Watkins hasn’t exactly lit up the league with his numbers, but he has still regularly delivered, scoring 14 and 11 goals in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons respectively.

His tally last term matched that of the Whites’ top scorer Raphinha, and with Patrick Bamford struggling for form, it’s something the club are lacking.

However, should Unai Emery not be a fan of the seven-cap England star, there could still be life to this deal and that will become clearer in the second half of the season.

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