Crystal Palace have reportedly wanted to bring Bees star Ollie Watkins to the Premier League since last year but will Alexander Sorloth go the other way?
Crystal Palace are hoping to finally sign long-time target Ollie Watkins from Brentford by offering misfit striker Alexander Sorloth as a makeweight in a potential cash-plus-player deal, according to the Mail.
With the future of talisman Wilfried Zaha up in the air, it would be foolish for Crystal Palace not to line up a replacement and prepare for a worst-case scenario.
Succeeding Zaha would certainly be easier said than done given that he has almost single-handedly saved The Eagles’ skin on plenty of occasions in the last two seasons though Watkins certainly shares plenty of similarities with the Ivory Coast international.
Like Zaha, Watkins made his name in the Championship while his speed and productivity in wide areas are certainly reminiscent of the £60 million Everton target.
Watkins scored 12 goals and produced nine assists for Brentford last season and, according to the Mail, Palace are trying to kill two birds with one stone by snapping up the former Exeter City starlet while getting rid of £9 million flop Sorloth.
The Norway international will be offered to Brentford as a sweetener, though it is uncertain how much Crystal Palace are willing to pay on top of that for Watkins.
The Sun reported 12 months ago that Roy Hodgson’s side were keen to pay £8 million plus Sulley Kaikai for Watkins, though his value has surely increased after another influential season at Griffin Park.
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