According to a recent report by Evening Standard, Bournemouth are tracking Brentford’s Ollie Watkins. Apart from them, Crystal Palace are also desperately trying to lure him out of the Griffin Park. The Bees have slapped a price tag of £15million on his collar as his value has rocketed after his dazzling displays in the Championship last season.
Brentford signed Watkins a year ago from League Two outfit, Exeter City, for just £1.5million. He took very little time to settle in the English second division and has emerged as one of the hottest properties in the game at the moment. He is a prized asset for Dean Smith’s side and the fact that he has three years left on his contract with Brentford contributes significantly to his price tag.
Having emerged through the youth ranks of Exeter City, Watkins showcased a lot of promise early on and has been developing himself in a commendable manner. He enjoyed a rapid rise after his loan spell at Weston-super-Mare in the Southern Premier League in 2015. After that, he took very little time to break into the senior side of the Grecians and in 2017, he was named the EFL Young Player of the Year.
His growth persuaded Brentford to make him sign on the dotted line last summer and they have enjoyed productive outputs from Watkins so far. In 45 appearances in the Championship last season, the 22-year-old smashed 10 goals and garnered 4 assists to his name. He played on the wings last season but Brentford are keen to use him centrally this time around.
Bournemouth have established themselves as an impressive Premier League side but it is about time they took the proverbial next step. Under the tutelage of Eddie Howe, the club has been going from strength to strength and one of the most remarkable aspects about Howe’s management has been his support towards the youngsters to take their game to the next level.
David Brooks from Sheffield United has been the only new player joining the Vitality Stadium outfit so far this transfer window. The Cherries are likely to get one or two new players and someone like Watkins should fit their bill. He is a versatile attacker with an exceptional eye to find the back of the net as well as to create chances for his teammates. His development under the excellent Howe will be interesting to see and Bournemouth will do well to land him.
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