Villa Back Watkins as January Decision Looms After Mixed December Form
Aston Villa head into the January transfer window facing a familiar dilemma over Ollie Watkins, but advice from within the game suggests Unai Emery is unlikely to panic.
Watkins showed flashes of his best form earlier this month when he struck twice in a dramatic 4–3 victory over Brighton, raising hopes that his goalscoring touch had finally returned. The England international was influential on the south coast, playing a key role in one of Villa’s most thrilling wins of the season.
However, those hopes were quickly tempered. Watkins again found himself struggling for goals in the following fixture against Manchester United, extending a run that has seen him score just three Premier League goals so far this campaign. The dip has inevitably sparked questions about whether Villa should move for a striker when the winter window opens.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, former Aston Villa figure King played down the need for January reinforcements up front. He insisted Watkins’ form would turn, stressing that strikers often go through barren spells before rediscovering confidence.
King also highlighted the buoyant mood around the club after the win over United, suggesting Villa should avoid disrupting a squad full of flair and belief. Any January additions, he warned, must be of genuine top quality rather than short-term fixes.
