Arsenal, Villarreal want Emmanuel Dennis

Though Watford may likely play football in the Championship next season, Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Dennis may not go down with them.

Dennis, one of Watford’s best performers this season is attracting interest from Arsenal and Villarreal.

Only a ‘ridiculous’ asking price prevented Dennis from sealing a dream move to his boyhood club, Arsenal, back in 2020.  

“Arsenal were interested,” the Watford striker’s agent, Drew Uyi, explained back in December.  

“Manchester United were also interested, but for Club Brugge (asking for a) ridiculous fee (the move might have happened).  

“They wanted £25 million, while these clubs (Arsenal and Man United) were prepared to pay £15 million. In the end, he joined Watford for £3.4 million because his contract was running out.”  

After an impressive debut season at Vicarage Road, however, Dennis’ price tag appears to have rocketed back up to those pre-pandemic levels.

According to The Standard, Watford will demand around £20 million for the Nigeria international should the likes of Villarreal firm up their interest between now and September.

But if Arsenal were willing to pay £15 million for Dennis on the back of a fine spell in Belgium, then surely the prospect of signing that very same player for just £5 million more – especially now that he can boast a proven track record in the Premier League – is something Mikel Arteta, Edu and co must give serious consideration to. 

With ten goals and six assists, the unpredictable Dennis is a leading light in a dark season at Vicarage Road.

In fact, a 24-year-old who shot to fame with two goals away at Real Madrid in the 2019/20 Champions League has maybe replaced Ismaila Sarr as the most coveted member of Roy Hodgson’s squad. 

While Arsenal are still interested in the likes of Victor Osimhen and Darwin Nunez for a man who’s scored just two league goals since the turn of the year at a doomed Watford side with, according to one analytics expert, a two per cent chance of survival. 

But with Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out the door – their contracts expiring in July – Osimhen, Gabriel Jesus or Nunez alone will not be enough. More than one striker is required at the Emirates.

Dennis is not the marquee signing Arsenal fans are hoping for. But some of the Gunners’ more under-the-radar signings have turned out to be some of their most successful. Gabriel Martinelli, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale to name but three

Dennis could certainly continue that trend. At 24, he is nowhere near the finished article. Dennis may thrive as part of a more high-quality squad at the Emirates Stadium, either through the middle or out wide.

Villarreal manager Unai Emery is also interested in taking Dennis to Spain this summer.

Watford want to keep hold of the 24-year-old, but they are currently sitting 19th in the table with five games to go and are braced for bids if they get relegated back to the Championship.