Chelsea Eye £60m Move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins Amid Osimhen Setback

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to meet Aston Villa’s £60m asking price for striker Ollie Watkins this summer, following their failure to secure Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, according to Transfersdotcom. The Blues have identified Watkins as a key alternative after Osimhen, who has scored an impressive 31 goals in 36 appearances for Galatasaray this season, became unattainable. The Nigerian striker’s potential transfer is further complicated by the rescheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations to late 2025, which could see him miss up to 10 matches—a risk Chelsea seem unwilling to take.

Watkins, 29, has been a consistent performer for Villa, notching 15 goals and 12 assists this season despite competition from loanee Marcus Rashford, who has jumped ahead in the pecking order under Unai Emery. Arsenal also saw a bid for Watkins rejected in January, though they may return with an improved offer. Villa, however, are in a strong position with Watkins’ contract running until 2028, and Emery has emphasized the club’s high demands for their star. As the transfer window approaches, Chelsea’s pursuit of a reliable striker intensifies, with Watkins emerging as a prime target to bolster their attack.