Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says, 'Maybe we have to sell some players'
2025-01-30
Category: sports

Aston Villa have decisions to make before Monday's transfer deadline with strikers Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran wanted men.Manager Unai Emery has said Villa will be "demanding" with Arsenal after their approach for the England forward was rejected while Duran is reportedly poised for a medical with Saudi side Al-Nassr.Watkins scored and missed a penalty in Wednesday's 4-2 Champions League win over Celtic, shrugging off the intense pre-game speculation.Afterwards, Emery said: "I don't want [to sell]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad."Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker."He was less than certain with Duran, who has been linked with a move from Villa Park since the summer."If he is leaving it's because he wants [to]. I told you last week I wanted him here. After West Ham match I told you I want him here," said Emery."We are different people, different objectives."The club is working and we have to be intelligent in the market. Our objective here is to keep our structure because we want to keep the level high, and maybe we have to sell some players - and I don't know exactly - until everything is done whether or not Jhon Duran is leaving - but if he does, it'll be good news for us because it's good money."I don't know if Duran will leave or not. I want to keep him here, but we have to respect it. It's good news to have offers from other clubs - but we want to keep our best players."