Unai Emery refused to debate switch hypothesis surrounding Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran after Aston Villa secured their place within the Champions League spherical of 16 with a pulsating 4-2 win over Celtic tonight.
Morgan Rogers scored a hat-trick for the house aspect with Watkins additionally on track, simply hours after information emerged that Villa had acquired a £60million bid for the England striker from Arsenal.
And with Duran reportedly a goal for Saudi Arabian aspect Al Nassr – reviews tonight advised the deal was finished with the Colombian set to turn into a team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo in a deal price £64 million – it means there might have to be some work finished by Emery and the Villa recruitment workforce ahed of Monday’s switch deadline.
🚨🟡🔵 Jhon Durán to Al Nassr, right here we go! Story from earlier tonight confirmed as paperwork are being ready.
Aston Villa to obtain €77m mounted price plus add-ons, long run deal accepted by Durán.
Medical booked tomorrow after which he’ll journey to Saudi proper after ✈️🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/m3SN6ots84
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2025
Requested about Duran, Emery stated: “Tomorrow or Friday we are able to speak in regards to the switch, or perhaps subsequent week, till all the pieces is finished I don’t need to communicate, as a result of in soccer all the pieces can occur. The membership is working and making an attempt to compete within the switch window as a result of we’d like some gamers. Some can go away, however it isn’t time to discuss it.”
On Watkins, who additionally missed a penalty in opposition to Celtic, he added: “I do know you need to ask about it, however I informed you, right this moment isn’t the day.”
Sensible Rogers overshadows Duran
Duran didn’t make it off the bench tonight, thanks largely as a result of type of Watkins and Villa’s different attacking gamers, led by the sensible Rogers.
“Undoubtedly the spotlight of my profession thus far,” stated the previous Manchester Metropolis teenager. “It’s a loopy expertise and a loopy recreation to be part of. It’s an enormous achievement and we ought to be pleased with ourselves.”
Rogers grew to become the primary participant in Champions League historical past to attain twice within the opening 5 minutes of a recreation because the hosts got here flying out of the traps.
He added: ”It’s one thing we needed to handle beginning video games behind and giving ourselves a mountain to climb. Nonetheless one thing to work on however the good begin is one thing to place us on the appropriate foot.
“I felt we had been on high for the big majority. We scored two objectives and that’s what modified the sport. We’re a bit shorthanded on the again in the meanwhile. We bought the win.
“We needed to dig deep, we all know we are able to, we do it within the Premier League each week. We totally deserved it. We’ve bought the starvation and the drive and we’ve bought a supervisor who pushes us daily.”
