Brentford have demanded a big fee for winger Ollie Watkins amid reported interest from Premier League Crystal Palace.
It has been quite the rise for Ollie Watkins. Just over a year ago he was being named as the Football League’s best young talent after an excellent breakthrough season at fourth tier Exeter City.
Now, the winger could be on his way to the Premier League.
The Sun claims that Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are interested in signing Brentford star Watkins. Palace are even willing to offer Sulley Kaikai as part of a potential £8 million deal to bring the 22-year-old to Selhurst Park.
But it seems that Brentford want an even bigger profit on a player they signed for just £1.8 million a year ago. The Standard is claiming that the Bees will demand £15 million on the back of a superb Championship campaign, in which he scored 11 goals and impressed with his speed and directness in attack.
Watkins has three years left on his contract at Griffin Park.
And it remains to be seen whether Palace would be willing to almost double their potential £8 million offer. They have not spent a penny so far this summer and the time is running out slowly to sign new players.
A winger is certainly required, particularly now that Bakary Sako has been released. West Ham United attacker Michael Antonio is understood to be a target for around £15 million and he would offer the proven Premier League experience that Watkins simply cannot for the same fee.
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