If Arsenal weren’t willing to stretch beyond £40million in January for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who had only just turned 29, then it is understandable why they aren’t jumping at the chance to buy Viktor Gyokeres. He is freshly 27 but has other worries around his game.
In a world of ever-growing focus on resale value, Watkins represented very little for Arsenal. This was, it is expected, his last chance to sign for his boyhood team. Watkins has three years left on his contract at Villa and only has one big deal left in him
Clubs are increasingly hesitant to offer lengthy terms to players over 30. Liverpool had to seriously consider it with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk (admittedly older but also better than Watkins
Arsenal themselves have been battling with how to manage Thomas Partey. He will either leave for free at the end of this month or he will extend his stay for at least another two years. As a player with injury problems only just leaving the rear-view mirror, Partey is justified in wanting more security and asking for a third year as well as going all out for his last attempt at a big pay day.
This is simply how the contract game works. Whether it is fair enough or not, clubs are reticent to commit to players who enter their 30s.
Because on the face of it, Watkins was exactly what Arsenal needed in January. He ticked the boxes of being Premier League proven, available, and at a good price. He ended last year with 16 goals and eight assists.
Watkins has an exceptional fitness record as well, which should not be overlooked. He has missed two league matches in the past three seasons and just six in five years. His output over that time has been remarkably impressive.
The former Brentford man has scored at least 11 times in each campaign, hitting 35 in the past two and 50 since the start of the 2022/23. Many have asked what Arsenal would ever spend £60million on if it wasn’t someone of this quality.
Given how their early summer search for a new No.9 has gone, maybe the Watkins pursuit explains a lot. Gyokeres appeared to be the guy for much of the past 12 months but his price tag, at £60million, and large wage demands make it questionable for Arsenal.
If they were not willing to go all out for Watkins in his prime, then why would they push for Gyokeres, who has not elite season in a top league? He does have exceptional goal-scoring numbers in Portugal but that comes with some sizeable caveats.
The level of defending and goalkeeping in Portugal is poor. Gyokeres is often afforded plenty of time and space to surge into. This is not to say he is not far too good for the quality Sporting CP are against, but more that it does not necessarily translate to firing in England.
