Takeover means Newcastle United have great chance of landing ‘Ronaldo-type’ 24-year-old – TBR View

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With Newcastle United on the verge of a takeover, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive with regards to potential new arrivals at St James’ Park.

Some high-profile names, such as Edinson Cavani, Dries Mertens, Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri have been linked with the Magpies, and there’s bound to be many more.

That said, the takeover – and the increased transfer budget that could come with it – could be a great opportunity for Newcastle to revisit one of their reported targets from earlier this year.

Ollie Watkins has been sensational for Brentford this season, weighing in with 22 Championship goals and three assists to help the Bees to fourth in the table.

Bees boss Thomas Frank shifted the 24-year-old from out wide to up front in wake of Neal Maupay’s move to Brighton, which proved a masterstroke and led to Chronicle Live linking Newcastle with him in February.

Frank compared Watkins to Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this season, telling the Wandsworth Times in August: “It’s a big comparison so I don’t want to go down that route but, in a way, I’ve mentioned it now.

“He’s like a Ronaldo-type, that he can play as a nine or he can play to the side, or he can play as a 10, but because he’s so versatile he has abilities you can benefit off in all positions.”

Four out of six Sky Sports Championship pundits – Andy Hinchcliffe, Scott Minto, David Prutton and Gary Weaver –  when picking their 2019-20 Championship player of the Year so far, picked Watkins.

“His finishing in the penalty box is so assured and he looks a natural goalscorer,” said Hinchcliffe, while Minto called him “the revelation of the season”.

Prutton, meanwhile, called him “Brentford’s chance of getting to the Premier League, and you imagine he will be there one way or another soon enough, anyway”, and Weaver said he “has turned into a proper No 9”.

Price-wise, Watkins was said in January to have a £25million price tag (Sky Sports), and while this may possibly have been a bit steep for Newcastle in the past, the takeover could suddenly make him affordable.

A high-calibre, versatile player who has a superb goalscoring record, knows English football well and still has plenty of room to progress, Watkins should definitely be worth a look.