Martin O'Neill reacts to Arsenal's reported bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins - 'I would be apoplectic
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Updated 29/01/2025 at 20:25 GMT
Aston Villa and Celtic will go head-to-head in the UEFA Champions League this evening in a crucial clash between two former winners of the competition. However, much of the pre-match talk has been dominated by reports of bids for Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran. Former Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists he would have been furious about bids for key players so close to transfer deadline day.
'I'd be apoplectic' - O'Neill on Arsenal's shock Watkins bid
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Martin O'Neill admits he would have been "apoplectic" if another club had tried to sign his star striker so close to transfer deadline day, amid reports that Arsenal made a late move to sign Ollie Watkins.
The Guardian reported that Aston Villa rejected a "significant bid" for the England striker just hours before their crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Celtic – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ – got underway.
There have been numerous reports suggesting that Colombian forward Jhon Duran could be on his way out of Villa Park, with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr supposedly eager to land his signature.
Furthermore, that transfer saga has supposedly taken another twist during Villa's match with Celtic, with The Athletic claiming that Duran will undergo a medical in London on Thursday ahead of a potential move to the Saudi Arabian side.
TNT Sports pundit and former Villa manager O'Neill insists he would have been furious if he were he still in charge of the club.
"Never mind the matchday, just think about how close it is to transfer deadline day, and you have got a bid in for your top striker," he said.
"I would be apoplectic, I must admit.
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"I feel as though Aston Villa, if they want to progress, must try and keep them here at the football club.
"I know it is supposedly a big offer, but January transfer window, I would not be having it."
Watkins has scored 10 goals and registered eight assists across all competitions so far this season, and was also key to England's run to the final of Euro 2024 in the summer.
His last-minute winner inspired The Three Lions to a 2-1 triumph over the Netherlands in the semi-final.
Duran has been a revelation for Villa this season and has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances.
Watkins has been selected in Villa's starting XI for the clash with Celtic, while Duran will start the contest on the bench.
O'Neil's fellow TNT Sport pundit and Villa icon Stiliyan Petrov believes that the club will reject any bids if they are serious about challenging in Europe.
"I mean, they don't have to sell.
"In modern football, you expect the big clubs to come in and put bids in, but you do not have to sell.
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"If you want to build something special, if you want to be consistent in Europe, you have to keep the players that make the difference.
"Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, they have got that ability, Watkins has proven he can score goals and be the big-game player.
"So, you don't have to sell, you don't have to take the offer.
"It is bad it [is] happening on a big game, and it is really disappointing."
All 18 UEFA Champions League matches are available to watch live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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