He was one of the best players in the Championship this season
Does your club need a striker? Do they constantly hover above the relegation zone without ever really threatening to get into Europe? Has this ever happened to you?
Then look no further, for Brentford’s Ollie Watkins is understood to be available for just £18m after the Bees missed out on promotion at the hands of West London rivals Fulham in the play-off final on Tuesday night.
Watkins bagged 25 goals this season, playing through the middle of Brentford’s famous ‘BMW’ front three – Benrahma, Mbuemo and Watkins.
The 24-year-old was close to joining Crystal Palace last summer for a fee of around £10m but a deal was never agreed. And the Eagles are reportedly interested in making another attempt to sign the striker, after the supposed £18m release clause was activated.
However, Palace’s ability to cough up the cash could be dependent on selling star player Wilfried Zaha, but with most clubs looking to tighten the pursestrings this summer, that could prove difficult.
Aston Villa are also reportedly interested in signing the former Exeter forward, after surviving in the Premier League without their first choice striker Wesley for most of the season. There have also been murmurs of interest from Leeds United, who were promoted with Patrick Bamford leading the line. But Bamford’s record in the top flight does not bode well for them and Marcelo Bielsa will want an agile number nine who can press and finish reliably in front of goal.
