Arsenal handed Watkins boost with Villa's 5-man wishlist including £70m star

Aston Villa are looking to reinvest the £65million fee they rake in for Jhon Duran before the end of the transfer window.

And that news could buoy Arsenal's attempts at signing Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery's side target Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. Villa are set to lose Duran on Friday as he completes a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Cunha, who has also been linked to Arsenal this month, is valued at £70m and has a contract that runs until 2027. The Villa Park outfit want to quickly reinvest the funds they bring in to strengthen their push for European qualification it is said.

In addition to Cunha, Villa still have four other players under consideration. Talks are continuing over Chelsea's Joao Felix and Paris Saint-Germain's Marco Asensio, per the Mail.

Bayern Munich Mathys Tel, who Spurs have see a bid accepted for, is also under being considered. The club still have ambitions to sign Axel Disasi from Chelsea.

Duran's exit appeared to leave the possibility of an deal for Watkins being sanctioned as unlikely, but a new arrival could perhaps spell new hope. The Gunners have already seen a bid for the England forward turned down.

The north London side could yet return with a second attempt however. Despite Aston Villa being reluctant to sell their star forward, it is said Watkins would be open to the move this month.

The 29-year-old grew up as an Arsenal fan, and has previously admitted that a move to the Gunners was his dream. There remain doubts that Villa would sell Watkins in addition to Duran however.

Arsenal are desperate to land a new striker before the transfer window closes. Mikel Arteta has admitted he is short in the forward positions.

“My opinion is clear, we lost two very, very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabi Jesus," he said. "So we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the front line, it is clear.

“If we can get the right player, that is what we are actively looking at. Any player? No. Someone that makes us better and has an impact on the team.

“It is clear that for the period that we have lost them, ideally, we need some help because we are very short already and we are even shorter. But the team still copes with that. But we have to do what is right for the club.”