Liverpool are \u2018closely monitoring\u2019 Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins amid a \u2018growing fear\u2019 they will be \u2018priced out\u2019 of a move for their top target.<\/p>\n
Arsenal saw a \u00a340m bid for Watkins rejected in January as Villa wanted \u00a360m that they instead got from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for the England international\u2019s rival for a starting spot, Jhon Duran.<\/p>\n
The Villans may now regret turning down the Gunners\u2019 offer for Watkins<\/a><\/strong> given the 29-year-old has been dropped to the bench for all but one of Villa\u2019s fixtures in April and was only trusted with 25 minutes across the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n Marcus Rashford started both of those games following his loan move from Manchester United in January and was particularly impressive as Villa just fell short of turning the tie on its head at Villa Park<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Unai Emery claimed ahead of that second leg that he hopes to \u201ctest a partnership\u201d before the end of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next step, if I have time, is to play them together,\u201d Emery said<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve tried Rashford on the left side before, but now both are more suited to central roles. I want to test that partnership, but not now \u2013 not in a match of this magnitude without proper preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n But\u00a0Football Insider claim if Villa take up the \u00a340m option to make Rashford\u2019s loan move from Manchester United permanent this summer then \u2018the door could open\u2019 for Watkins\u2019 departure<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The report states:<\/p>\n \u2018Marcus Rashford\u2018s future at Villa Park is key to Watkins potentially pushing for a summer move away from the Midlands giants.<\/p>\n \u2018It is believed the door could open for the long-serving Villa striker to depart should they sign Rashford on a permanent basis from Man United this summer.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365<\/strong>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Big Weekend: Aston Villa v Newcastle, Liverpool, Declan Rice, Leeds, and poor old Lyon<\/a><\/strong>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Double Liverpool signing \u2018severely limits\u2019 Slot\u2019s ability to bring in \u2018galactic\u2019 transfer from PL rival<\/strong><\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Liverpool warned of Van Dijk \u2018risk\u2019 by doctor who claims new deal could backfire for three reasons<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n