Ollie Watkins is keen on a reunion with Dean Smith as Aston Villa prepare an opening bid for the £25 million-rated Brentford striker, according to Sky Sports.
It was Thomas Frank who transformed the former Exeter City starlet into one of the most feared forwards in English football over the last 12 months, turning Watkins from a sprightly winger into a relentless goal-machine who hit the target 26 times across 2019/20.
But, if it wasn’t for Frank’s Brentford predecessor, the Torquay-born 24-year-old might not have been given his chance at Championship level in the first place.
“He’s got a great attitude and he doesn’t stop working. He’s a joy to work with” Smith told Sky in August (4 August, 7pm), reminiscing about a deal that saw Watkins swap St James’ for Griffin Park in a bargain £1.8 million deal.
“I played him a few times at striker. I always said to him he’d be a striker, he likes playing off the left and we felt that was the best area for him to go and get goals – but we played him at centre-forward at Bristol City away and he ran them ragged.”
If Smith wants to reunite with Watkins at Villa Park, and many reports suggest that is the case, he will cost a lot more than £1.8 million this time around.
Sky suggests that Brentford, after missing out on promotion to the Premier League, are demanding £25 million – a fee that is likely to put off Sheffield United and, potentially, Crystal Palace too.
Bankrolled by billionaire owners Wes Edens and Nasef Sawiris, an ambitious Villa side have deeper pockets than most, however.
With Sky adding that Watkins would be very happy to work with Smith again, the Midland giants could soon have a much-needed goal-scorer in their ranks at last.
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