Tom Huddlestone has claimed on the Football Show on Sky Sports (13/10/20 at 10:25 am) that Ollie Watkins form for Aston Villa has perhaps pushed West Ham to take a gamble on Said Benrahma.
The Evening Standard claim that West Ham have reached a breakthrough with Brentford to sign their tricky winger before Friday’s deadline – but the Telegraph say Villa could yet make a last-minute move for the player.
The Bees have already been busy in the transfer market after they sold Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa for a club-record fee – he recently hit a hat-trick against the champions, Liverpool.
And former Derby midfielder Huddlestone thinks the form of the Villa man has persuaded those in East London to take a gamble on the Brentford player because Watkins is proving that, just like him, his talented teammate can also make the ‘step up’.
“I think it will do [Watkins form pushing West Ham to sign Benrahma] and equally from Brentford’s point of view, they will see how Watkins has done at Villa, hit the ground running and maybe added £5-10 million on their valuation knowing their players can make their step up,” Huddlestone told Sky Sports.
“Brentford play a quite unique system in the Championship. In like a 3-4-3 system, which allows their front players to be creative and express themselves. There aren’t many teams in the Premier League that play that way.
“A lot would have been cagey about taking the risk [with Benrahma.] with such a high price tag. As I said with Watkins hitting the ground running, they are probably more willing to make that sort of sacrifice now. He will get the crowd off their feet once they are allowed back in.”
This signing isn’t exactly needed by West Ham because they have other pressing matters that need dealing with, such as their defence.
But those at the London Stadium need a lift of some sort, especially after those in the boardroom decided to sell Grady Diangana earlier on in the window.
Brentford have a knack of plucking serious talent out of the transfer waters for little money and without anyone realising before selling them for big bucks to the big fish – the proof is in the players they have sold for big money from Neal Maupay, Watkins, Chris Mepham, Scott Hogan and Ezri Konsa.
It could be argued that Benrahma is perhaps the most talented player of the lot.
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