Arsenal have reportedly made a decision on whether to reignite their interest in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins this summer after failing with a £40m swoop in January.
The Gunners are understood to have tried their luck with a late approach for the England international over the winner following the loss of Gabriel Jesus to a season-ending knee injury.
However, the Lions had no interest in letting Watkins leave for £40m, having already sold Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr, and Arsenal ended the winter market without a new addition.
That gamble backfired in the most spectacular fashion when Kai Havertz was ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, although Mikel Merino has been doing a praiseworthy job up front as Arsenal's makeshift striker.
The Spaniard found the back of the net for the sixth time in the Premier League season in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Fulham, but Arsenal will finally spend the big bucks on a new number nine before the 2025-26 season.
Arsenal 'cool interest' in Watkins
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However, according to Sky Sports News, the Gunners will not be prioritising another swoop for Watkins, having 'cooled' their interest in a deal for the ex-Brentford man after their January rejection.
Watkins has enjoyed yet another prolific campaign of hitting double figures in both goals and assists, netting 14 strikes of his own and setting up 12 more in 43 matches in the current term.
Over the winter, Arsenal's proposed switch for Watkins supposedly hinged on what happened with Duran, whose transfer to Al-Nassr was not a certainty for the entirety of the window.
Once the Colombian's switch was set in stone, though, Aston Villa slapped a not-for-sale sign on Watkins, and Arsenal are now believed to be pursuing younger targets than the 29-year-old.
Furthermore, Watkins's Aston Villa contract does not expire until the summer of 2028, so the West Midlands side are under no immediate pressure to let him depart in the coming months.
What 'younger' Watkins alternatives are Arsenal targeting?
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Rather than moving for a player already in his peak such as Watkins, Arsenal are expected to give greater consideration to up-and-coming strikers or those who are just about to enter their prime years.
One such option is Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, and it is understood that the Gunners do indeed have a 'growing interest' in signing the Manchester United-linked Sweden international.
Gyokeres would be a cheaper alternative to Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, whom the Magpies could justifiably demand around £150m for this summer, an unrealistic fee for Arsenal to pay while they also go after a new left-winger, midfielder and goalkeeper.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is also known to have admirers in North London, as does Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha, as new sporting director Andrea Berta makes his presence felt straight away.
Ben Knapton
