Unai Emery is hopeful about Aston Villa’s new contract for Ollie Watkins
Contract talks between the club and the striker have been going on since before the end of last season and speaking on Friday, Emery sounded upbeat when asked for the news.
Watkins, whose contract expires at the end of next season, has been Villa’s top scorer over the past three seasons and is a key part of Emery’s future plans.
The boss said:
“We are negotiating. Actually, I hope he signs with us long term. I’m very happy and I think his daily commitment to us is really high, also his behavior. “He is an example to other players and his performances have always been good for us. Sometimes scoring more goals, sometimes less, but always doing a good job.
Tyrone Mings, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa have all signed new contracts since the turn of the year with Emery determined to lay the foundations for future success.
“We have to be very strict and responsible,” he said. “Konsa is still young at 25. He is really progressing and his commitment to the club is very high. I think he deserves it.
“Of course he has to demand his own way after the new contract, demanding himself to improve.
“Same goes for Ollie Watkins. Even when he doesn’t score, he still does his job well. For the team and the club, his behavior was appalling.
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Ollie Watkins fired a superb hat-trick for Unai Emery’s men with goals also for Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz and an own goal from Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan. Albion briefly rallied after the break and pulled one back from Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati – his first for the club – but Brighton were way off the pace throughout.
The win moved Aston Villa up to fourth ahead of the 3pm kick-offs, while Brighton, who were third before today’s thrashing, will now look to Thursday’s Europa League clash at Marseille.
De Zerbi has made numerous changes to his starting XIs this term as he tries to manage his squad amid a hectic fixture schedule and injuries.
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Aston Villa are to open contract talks with striker Ollie Watkins after the striker hit a brilliant hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Watkins was on target after 14 minutes at Villa Park to give Unai Emery’s side the lead against the Seagulls and made it 2-0 shortly afterwards.
Villa were 3-0 ahead within 26 minutes following a Pervis Estupinan own goal and after Ansu Fati had pulled a goal back for the visitors early in the second half, Watkins completed his hat-trick with a deflected effort to make it 4-1 with 65 minutes played.
The England international then set up Jacob Ramsey for Villa’s fifth goal with five minutes left and Douglas Luiz rounded off a memorable afternoon for the home side to make it 6-1 in added time.
Ahead of the game, Emery spoke of his plans for Watkins and his hopes that the 27-year-old will put pen to paper on a new long-term deal.
“We are in talks,” he said. “Really, hopefully he is going to sign for a long time with us. I am very happy and I think his commitment with us is really high every day, his behaviour.
“He is an example for other players and his performances as well are always at a good level for us. Sometimes scoring more goals, sometimes scoring less, but always doing his work.”
Watkins has admitted in the past that he is a fan of Arsenal and said in 2020 that he hoped to play for the Gunners at some point in his career.
“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” the former Brentford striker said. “But, you know, it’s a long shot.”
And he added: “I’m an Arsenal fan so Thierry Henry was my idol. He’s unbelievable to watch. He was the idol growing up really.”
Watkins has been linked to Arsenal as manager Mikel Arteta looks to sign a new striker in January, but Brentford’s Ivan Toney is understood to be the Gunners’ top target.
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