The Sun has recently revealed that Aston Villa are ready to offer Brentford forward Ollie Watkins a bumper £70,000-a-week deal to lure him to Villa Park this summer. Villa boss Dean Smith is eager to sign the English striker and has received the backing of the club’s owners ahead of a potential move for him in this off-season (via The Sun).
Watkins’ Sensational Goal-Scoring Record At Greater London Last Season
The Torbay-born attacker enjoyed a terrific season in England but missed out on securing promotion back to the Premier League as Fulham got the better of the Bees in the EFL Championship playoffs final by a narrow 2-1 scoreline.
Watkins managed to perform at a high level and ended the previous campaign with 26 goals and three assists to his name in 50 appearances for Brentford in all competitions. The ex-Exeter City forward averaged 2.7 shots, 1.5 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the second tier of English football last season. However, he needs to be more attentive when linking up with his teammates in the final third after he completed just 74.8% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 24-year-old has established himself amongst the top performers in the Championship. Still, there are some serious question marks over whether he can maintain his high standards in the Premier League if the Villans are successful in their efforts to land him this summer.
What Will The Bees Star Add To Dean Smith’s Side?
Watkins can produce some dangerous runs with the ball using his blistering pace and agility to get past his marker in a flash. He is proficient at making space for himself in and around the opponent’s penalty area and can get some quick shots in at goal. The English marksman has gradually converted himself into an unforgiving presence in front of goal. However, he needs to create more opportunities for his teammates if he wants to be a household name in England someday.
Should The Villans Bring Watkins On Board This Summer?
Smith lacks quality in his attacking department as the likes of Keinan Davis, Mbwana Samatta and Wesley Moraes have all been guilty of providing inconsistent displays in Premier League football in recent times. Hence, a striker of Watkins’ attacking prowess will be a welcome addition to the Villans squad before the transfer window comes to a close later this year.
The Brentford centre-forward will significantly improve the quality of Aston Villa’s first-team and help them renew their top-flight status in the upcoming campaign. Watkins is even versatile enough to feature on the flanks if required, which makes him a great choice for the West Midlands outfit to consider ahead of the new season. With all things considered, the English striker has what it takes to be fan-favourite at Villa Park, so Smith should try his best to bring him on board this summer.
