January Transfer Window 2025: Big Deals, In and Out – Watkins, Rashford, and Isak Updates
As the January transfer window draws to a close, Arsenal’s pursuit of Ollie Watkins and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak continue to make headlines, with both players at the center of significant transfer speculation.
Ollie Watkins to Arsenal: Is Rashford’s Move to Villa a Factor?
Arsenal’s reported interest in Ollie Watkins has intensified, with the club’s initial £60 million bid being rejected. Despite this, there are signs that a revised offer could be in the works. The potential signing is now under further scrutiny, especially in light of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford edging closer to a move to Aston Villa.
Rashford’s potential move to Villa, where he could join forces with Watkins and new signing Donyell Malen, has raised questions about how this might impact Arsenal’s pursuit of the England striker. Sky Sports’ Sue Smith believes that Villa will work hard to keep Watkins, even if Rashford arrives, emphasizing the depth of attacking options at Unai Emery’s disposal.
With Aston Villa keen to bolster their squad for a push in both the Premier League and Champions League, the arrival of Rashford could provide important attacking depth. However, Smith points out that the departure of Jhon Duran has left Villa in need of fresh attacking options, making Watkins’ departure unlikely for now.
Isak Responds to Arsenal Rumors
Meanwhile, Alexander Isak has addressed the growing transfer rumors linking him to Arsenal, despite his excellent form at Newcastle. The Swedish forward, who has been in superb goal-scoring form this season, dismissed the speculations with a laugh, stating that he’s accustomed to the transfer talk but remains focused on his current role at Newcastle.
Isak has been breaking club records and is in the hunt for this season’s Golden Boot, which has naturally attracted interest from top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal. Despite the rumors, the 25-year-old forward made it clear that he has no intentions of leaving in January, finding amusement in the outlandish nature of some transfer stories.
Isak also spoke about wearing the legendary number 9 shirt at Newcastle, acknowledging its importance to the fans but expressing contentment with his current number 14 shirt. Manager Eddie Howe is working to manage the speculation surrounding Isak’s future, especially with concerns over the club’s compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
As the window nears its end, both these transfer sagas remain hot topics, with plenty of drama still unfolding.
