Arsenal are in need of a striker over the final days of the January transfer window as Mikel Arteta mulls over moves for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins and Mathys Tel of Bayern Munich

Arsenal chiefs took everyone by surprise on Tuesday by tabling a reported £45million bid for Aston Villa star Watkins, not least of all Villa themselves. The offer was firmly rejected, but at least finally signalled Arteta’s intention to land a proven goalscorer.

Ollie Watkins is ‘open’ to joining Arsenal before the transfer deadline if Aston Villa back down and agree a deal with the Gunners. The future of England striker Watkins looks set to be one of the biggest talking points in the final few days of the transfer window after he was the subject of a big-money offer from Arsenal.