‘Arsenal have also been considering another move for Watkins, having first approached Villa on Monday. That enquiry left the London club with the understanding that the forward may be available for a certain price, although there was at that point a difference of at least £20m in valuation.

Arsenal will decide whether to sign a top Serie A striker - or wait for the summer to try again for Ollie Watkins after his true thoughts were revealed.

Aston Villa are set to enter the transfer market in a bid to fill the gap left by Jhon Duran, while Arsenal ponder launching a second offer for Ollie Watkins to fix their forward problems