Report: Aston Villa in talks over £25m Ollie Watkins deal, Fulham also keen

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Aston Villa are hoping to conclude a deal to bring Ollie Watkins to Villa Park, despite late interest from Premier League newcomers, Fulham.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Dean Smith is hoping to bring Watkins in after a stunning few seasons in the Championship saw him score 45 times for Brentford.

25 of those goals came last season as the Bees just came up short of promotion to the Premier League, losing out to Fulham in the playoff final.

And now, Fulham are said to be interested in landing the forward, with Sky Sports claiming Scott Parker is looking to add Watkins to an attack that already features Aleksandar Mitrovic. It is believed Brentford want at least £25m for their man.

However, Dean Smith will be hoping his time spent working with Watkins will stand him in good stead as the race hots up for one of the most in-demand strikers outside of the top-flight.

Watkins is going to be brilliant whoever he signs for, Villa would be ideal – TBR View

Villa needs a striker after last summer’s big-money signing, Wesley, failed to pay off. They scraped survival by the skin of their teeth but now have the spending power available to make improvements.

They seem to be linked with new players every other week so it’s no surprise to see them as frontrunners in the race to land Watkins.

Of course, Watkins appears to have all the tools to succeed. Quick, powerful, and someone who clearly knows where the back of the net is.

At £25m, he might well prove to be a bargain in the long-run, especially given he is only 24.