Ollie Watkins (Getty Images)
According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa are preparing a bid for Brentford striker Ollie Watkins to bolster their attack ahead of next season.
The report suggests that the Championship side value Watkins at £25m. It also states that Villa boss Dean Smith wants to improve his attacking options for the new season and could make a move for the 24-year-old, with whom he had previously worked with.
However, acquiring his services may not be easy for Villa as they have to face competition from Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, both of whom are also keen on signing Watkins, as per the report.
Born in England, the centre-forward began his journey with Exeter City’s youth academy, joining them in 2004. He was then sent on loan to Weston-Super-Mare AFC for six months, before returning to his parent club in the summer of 2015. He went on to make 78 appearances. Scoring 26 goals and providing 17 assists and Brentford signed him in the summer of 2017.
He immediately established himself as the first-choice striker for the Bees, scoring 10 goals in each of his first two seasons at Griffin Park and took his game to the next level, thereafter. In the 2019/20 campaign, he led Thomas Frank’s side to the Championship playoff final which they eventually lost to Fulham.
One of the key reasons for Villa’s poor campaign is the lack of consistency in front of goal. Wesley Moraes was signed last summer but the Brazilian was ineffective and finally ended up on the sidelines to a major injury. Young Keinan Davies wasn’t convincing enough to lead the line and the manager brought in Mbwana Samatta in January to replace the injured Wesley.
The Tanzanian also failed miserably and managed to score just one goal in 14 games. Club captain Jack Grealish was depended upon to help them secure their top-flight status as he ended up as the top scorer for Smith’s side with 8 goals. And this clearly indicates why Villa need to bring in an in-form striker in Watkins.
The 24-year-old has been in sensational form this season and has improved a lot in recent times. He scored 26 goals in the Championship, falling one shot of top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic and almost guided his team to the top-flight. He has been a key player for the Bees and if he is able to continue with the fine form, he could be a valuable addition to Smith’s squad.
His inclusion would definitely add depth to their ranks and given his good run of form, he could help Villa in terms of increase in their goal tally. The youngster has all the abilities to succeed at the top level and joining forces with Smith could be helpful for the team as the pair have already worked together.
At 24, Watkins is in the form of his life and has a huge future ahead of him. At the same time, Villa lack quality in their attacking unit. And the former Exeter City man could be perfect to lead their attack. Thus, they should manage to lure the Englishman to Villa Park this summer.
