Arsenal has made an ambitious move to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as it tries to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta has been in need of a new number nine for a while and has now made his move.

Aston Villa has rejected an offer worth around $75 million (£60M/€72M) for Watkins with the Midlands outfit furious that it was lodged in the build-up to its crucial Champions League game against Celtic, according to Fabrizio Romano. Watkins, 29, grew up as an Arsenal fan and has been linked with a transfer to the Emirates Stadium before.

Watkins is the number one player Aston Villa uses down the center of Unai Emery's attack. Jhon Duran, the young Colombian forward, is expected to move on in search of a more regular chance at minutes as a result.

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Aston Villa is already in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, the club that Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane represent, about a big-money move for Duran. However, losing Watkins and Duran in the same mid-season window would surely not be considered.

Emery would then need to buy at least one more forward with just days remaining in the winter transfer window. Premier League clubs can sign players until 11 pm UK time (6 pm ET) on Monday. After that, the rosters are set until the summer, when most of the spending tends to take place.

Liverpool.com says: Watkins would make a difference for Arsenal, for sure. But would Aston Villa think about losing him this month? It would take a colossal offer. Given he is already 29 years old, it is a very short-term move from the Gunners, which perhaps underlines their desperation to try and catch Liverpool.