Aston Villa were extremely angry that news broke on the day of their crucial final Champions League game that Arsenal had made a bid for striker Ollie Watkins.

It was bad timing, that is for certain, but the bid had actually been in for a few days. The news just emerged on the day of the Champions League matches. Someone was having a bit of fun behind the scenes.

After the game, Villa boss Unai Emery was less than impressed with persistent questions about his striker. He said afterwards: "I don’t want [to sell]. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad. Every player can be in the market in case it is good for the player and the club.

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"To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker."

Villa should have been laughing at the bid, rather than getting angry. While everyone was talking about Jhon Duran's future and the fact Arsenal and Chelsea could make a late move to sign him before the January transfer window shut, a bid for Watkins was made.

Watkins has just turned 29 and has little to no sell-on value for any club signing him now. A five-year contract would take him to the age of 34 - it would be his last big deal.

Arsenal have long been accused of failing to get top dollar for their assets and signing Watkins would be another example of this. However, the Gunners are interested in the here and now only. They need another forward, someone to propel them to the Premier League title. It feels like another goalscorer is the only thing really missing.

Duran would be an investment. At 21 he has his whole future ahead of him and what a future it could be based on how he has already performed in his limited time in the Premier League.

While Arsenal could and perhaps should go for Duran, for the now and the future, they're looking at Watkins instead. A £60million bid has been rejected, with a second expected in the coming hours before the window shuts on Monday.

Villa cannot afford to lose both of their frontmen and the news that a full agreement had been reached for Duran's arrival in the Middle East, with a medical scheduled to take place in London ahead of a big-money move to Al-Nassr will not help matters.

Arsenal will be hampered in their plan to sign Watkins by that Duran deal. The Gunners will be hoping that the deal to take Duran to the Saudi Pro League collapses at the last minute. Arsenal would surely get a deal over the line for Watkins for more than £60million, if Duran stays at Villa Park. How likely that is, however, is anyone's guess.