Chelsea are unable to meet Aston Villa’s valuation of Ollie Watkins despite interest in signing the forward.
Watkins has been touted for a potential move to Chelsea as the West Londoners look to sign a centre-forward this summer.
The 28-year-old scored 27 goals in all competitions to fire Aston Villa to Champions League qualification in 2023-24 and led the Premier League for assists (13) to win the Playmaker Award. He was also awarded Aston Villa’s Players’ Player of the Season after a career-best campaign.
Villa have no interest in selling their leading scorer as the club prepare to return to Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 1983 next season.
Watkins is valued in excess of £80m at Villa Park, a fee Football Insider say Chelsea are unable to pay due to Premier League Profit and Sustainability (PSR) restrictions.
Watkins has scored 70 goals in 169 appearances for Aston Villa since his arrival from Brentford four years ago, and has netted four times in 15 appearances for England at international level.
The forward scored a memorable last-gasp semi-final winner against the Netherlands at Euro 2024 to book England’s place in the final.
Chelsea expressed interest in signing fellow forward Jhon Duran from Aston Villa earlier in the summer though interest from the Blues has cooled in the Colombian.
