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Aston Villa are reportedly close to wrapping up the signature of forward Ollie Watkins from Championship club Brentford.

According to BBC Sport, Villa have agreed a fee of £28million for the English attacker which could potentially rise to £33million with add-ons.

The report explains that they are closing in on a club-record signing and the Midlands outfit moved for the 24-year-old quickly after missing out on target Callum Wilson, who joined Newcastle United from Bournemouth.

Villa manager Dean Smith previously worked with Watkins at Brentford and the pair could now be reunited in the top-flight.

The centre-forward scored 26 goals across all competitions last season for Brentford in a brilliant individual campaign and looks good enough to make the step up to the Premier League.

TBR’s View:

Villa could be about to splash out a huge transfer fee for a player without any top-flight experience, but he certainly looks like a gamble worth taking and he’s going to inject some real quality in the final third.

Smith’s side have been crying out for a signing this window that can come in and lead their frontline, which is something Watkins is capable of doing with his pace, finishing and movement.

He was part of a lethal attack last season at Brentford and the fact he’s worked with the Villa manager before should help him settle quickly to try make an instant impact.