Darren Moore has admitted that West Bromwich Albion missed out on the signing of Brentford talisman Ollie Watkins, telling Sky Sports that the Baggies ‘didn’t take the plunge’ on a then-Exeter City forward.
Just to rub salt into the wounds, it was West Brom’s one-that-got-away who consigned Slaven Bilic’s side to defeat in a promotion six-pointer at Griffin Park last weekend.
Watkins, the winger-turned-centre-forward, showcased his predatory poacher’s instinct once again to tap home at the far post and put the Bees within five points of the Baggies in second place.
That, remarkably, was his 23rd goal of the season.
Not a bad tally for a player who was a high-stepping wideman as recently as 2018/19.
These days, Brentford would demand £20 million for Watkins, who has a whole host of Premier League clubs fluttering their eyelashes in his direction (Sky).
But if West Brom had taken a punt back in 2017, they could have snapped up one of the most in-form marksmen in England for just £1.8 million when he was roasting full-backs in League Two with Exeter.
“I remember speaking to (then-Exeter boss) Paul Tisdale at the time and he recommended Watkins for us as a player we should purchase,” said former West Brom coach Moore, who is now in charge at Doncaster Rovers.
“Unfortunately at West Brom, we didn’t take the plunge at the time. Whether the recruitment department didn’t fancy him at the time, or whatever it may be, but I did recommend him and it never came to it.
“On a personal level, I have watched him develop into that number nine and someone who is scoring important goals.”
It’s fair to say that, if Watkins was plying his trade at the Hawthorns rather than Griffin Park, Bilic’s free-flowing side would probably be a Premier League team already.
While Watkins has 23 goals this season, no one in West Brom’s squad has more than 10 with big summer signings Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin nothing just 12 between them.
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