Warnock: Watkins Should Stay at Villa as Emery Knows Best How to Utilize His Abilities

According to UK media outlet teamtalk.com, Warnock, who played for Liverpool and Aston Villa, has said that current England international forward Watkins’ best option is to stay at Villa, as head coach Emery can fully harness his capabilities.

Following the European Championship and Copa America, the summer transfer window has started heating up, and the future of Watkins has become a hot topic in the industry. Under Emery’s leadership, Watkins reached new heights in his career last season, scoring 27 goals and providing 13 assists in 53 appearances, playing a key role in Villa’s push into the top four of the Premier League and the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, and he naturally represented England at the European Championship in Germany.

The media believes that the 28-year-old Watkins will move to a bigger club this summer in pursuit of major titles, with Premier League giants such as Chelsea and Manchester United not denying their interest in him. However, according to Warnock, the best decision for Watkins is to stay at Villa, and if he does move, Arsenal would be a reasonable choice.

Warnock said, “While at Villa, it was Emery who raised his game, so he holds Emery in high regard and knows that working under Emery is most suitable for him – playing in a system that suits him, giving him opportunities to score and create goals. If he moves, the difference is that he will likely play in the Champions League. But if he goes to another club, he might not adapt well to the new tactics and may not settle in, as the philosophy of a new coach could be a different style of football. The crux of the matter is whether he wants the Premier League title, so which team he chooses will be an interesting topic. I think he might go to Arsenal, rather than choosing Manchester City or Liverpool.”