Villa are relatively well-stocked across most areas of the pitch, with the three summer additions so far augmenting an already strong squad.
But despite the arrival of marquee signing Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins remains Villa’s focal point in attack, the player imperative to coach Unai Emery’s rotational, highly dynamic attacking structure.
Emery wants multi-faceted attackers, capable of leading the line but also of getting between opposition full-back and centre-back in the channels. There is not any other player at his disposal who can press from the front, link play and stretch it in behind as capably as Watkins.
Cameron Archer and Jhon Duran would be Watkins’ replacements if he was out and while promising talents, are not the known quantity the England international is. It is why, fundamentally, he will not be leaving this summer and why Villa are keen to renew a contract which has two years left to run.
