Rio Ferdinand says £40m Arsenal target ‘deserves’ to join Gunners

Rio Ferdinand believes Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ‘deserves’ a move to Arsenal this summer.

Mikel Arteta’s side are in the market for a new striker in the summer window หากคุณสนใจเล่นพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด สามารถสมัครสมาชิก UFABET ได้ที่นี่ พร้อมรับโปรโมชั่นพิเศษสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko on their shortlist.

Arsenal submitte a £40 million bid to sign Watkins in the January transfer window, however, their approach was rejecte by Villa, who went on to sell Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for £65m.

Watkins, meanwhile, has raise doubts over his future after admitting last month that he was ‘fuming’ with Unai Emery for starting on the bench for both of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final legs against Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal may reignite their interest in Watkins for the summer and Ferdinand feels the 29-year-old would make an impact under Arteta at Arsenal.

‘He’s one of the main reasons as to why they’re playing Champions League football and playing at this level.

‘I think for any defender he’s a hard day’s work, 100 per cent, he’s adde quality to his game over the last few years.

‘His route to the top hasn’t conventional, no academies, he’s worked his way here and he deserves everything he gets.

‘I wasn’t surprise Arsenal came in for him because I think he deserves that given the performances and the output he’s putting in.’