Striker Ollie Watkins has informed manager Unai Emery that he intends to remain at Aston Villa, turning down interest from Arsenal.

Arsenal made an approach for the England international on Monday, but Villa swiftly rejected it, with no plans to let the forward leave.

Emery confirmed that Watkins, who scored in Villa’s 4-2 Champions League win over Celtic on Wednesday, is expected to stay at the club.

“Yes, he is happy to stay,” Emery said when asked if Watkins had expressed his desire to remain at Villa Park.

“We check in with him daily, and he has always felt supported here, both with the team and coaching staff, since we arrived two years ago.”

Watkins, 29, has scored 81 goals in 201 appearances for Villa since his £28m move from Brentford in 2020.

“Ollie’s commitment to us has been immense. He appreciates how Aston Villa has supported him, and he values how the coaching staff have worked with him. We’ve always aimed to bring out the best in him,” Emery added.

“We need him as much as he needs us. Our conversations are frequent, and he adapts to the circumstances of the squad and his own role. When other clubs show interest, it’s naturally flattering for both the club and the player.”

“Some players decide to move on, while others, like Ollie, choose to stay committed to the challenge we have here.”

Monchi Confirms Duran Sale and Interest in Felix and Asensio

Meanwhile, striker Jhon Duran is expected to finalize a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for a fee that could reach 85m euros (£71.1m). The Saudi transfer window closes on Friday.

Villa’s president of football operations, Monchi, acknowledged that the club will retain a portion of the money from Duran’s sale to comply with profit and sustainability regulations.

He said: “It’s a key deal for a player with great potential, and such offers are difficult to refuse. The total amount, including fixed and variable components, will be close to 85m euros.”

“We plan to allocate part of the funds from Duran’s sale to ensure we meet financial fair play rules.”

Chelsea striker Joao Felix and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Asensio are among Villa’s targets as they aim to bolster their squad before the Monday 23:00 GMT deadline.

Felix has scored seven goals in 20 appearances for Chelsea since his summer move from Atletico Madrid for £45m, but he has only made three Premier League starts.

Asensio, 29, has netted twice in 16 appearances for PSG, with only eight of those in Ligue 1.

Monchi spoke to Spanish radio station El Larguero, saying: “Joao is one of the players we like. Emery has always had an interest in him. In the three transfer windows I’ve been part of, he’s consistently been a player we’ve talked about.”

“It’s complicated, and I’m not sure if we can make it happen. The first time, when Villa were in the Conference League, Joao wanted to play in the Champions League, which led him to Barcelona. Then, during the operation involving Conor Gallagher and Atletico, he ended up at Chelsea.”

“Similarly, with Asensio, Villa tried to sign him just before my arrival, and while it didn’t work out, he joined PSG. Emery has always believed in his talent and has had a strong interest in him.”