According to a recent report by Daily Star, Frank Lampard’s high-flying Chelsea side are being credited with a sustained interest in the acquisition of Brentford striker Ollie Watkins. Although the Blues have been linked with players like Edinson Cavani and Moussa Dembele over recent months, the purchase of Watkins could turn out to be a budget blockbuster.
The report suggests that the Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is a big fan of the forward’s talents and that he has personally identified Watkins as one of their ideal long-term transfer targets. Even though he certainly wouldn’t be the readymade goalscorer that the Blues are after, they are said to be keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge as he promises to be an exceptional talent later on, and because they have been keeping tabs on his progress at Brentford for a while now.
What Made Chelsea Identify Ollie Watkins As A Talent?
The Blues have a good history of picking up potential stars from lower league clubs, to at least sell them for a profit later on, if not guide them to meaningful footballing careers. Watkins though is a different breed of a striker and would be an excellent fit at a Premier League club.
The youngster boasts an unbelievable passing range for a centre-forward but is renowned for his exceptional finishing abilities in and around the box.
The 24-year-old has scored 18 times in 27 Championship appearances this season, and he’s even notched up three assists along the way. Although he didn’t play the Bees’ most recent FA Cup fixture against Leicester City owing to a hamstring injury, he has been a regular in the Brentford side for the last couple of seasons now.
Why Chelsea Need To Sign Ollie Watkins Next Summer.
Last term’s Aston Villa top scorer Tammy Abraham has been a sensation up front for the Blues this season, and his goals have helped Chelsea secure progress into the quarterfinals of the Champions League. They currently find themselves in fourth place in the league but haven’t looked nearly as comfortable as they should in front of goal. The addition of a player like Ollie could be the answer to Lampard’s attacking frustrations.
The Exeter academy product has undoubtedly been the Bees’ most important player so far this season, and his individual contributions have been absolutely pivotal to their progress as well. With 67 goals to show from 200 English league appearances despite being just 24, Watkins is sure to have a big career, and Chelsea will do well to sign him up ahead of the start of next campaign.
