Report: Tottenham face huge battle to sign ‘top-class’ star, could last for weeks yet

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Aston Villa’s battle with Tottenham Hotspur for Ollie Watkins could go ‘right down to the wire’, the Daily Mail suggest.

Villa were leading the race for Watkins, but Tottenham’s interest in the Brentford forward has complicated matters, the Express & Star claimed yesterday.

And it seems that Villa are no longer expecting a quick conclusion over the striker’s future, with a big battle now expected.

As a result they are pressing ahead to try and bring in another striker for their Premier League opener, which comes against Sheffield United on September 20th.

There has still not been any indication over which club Watkins would rather pick over Villa and Tottenham, and it seems that it could be some time before the striker makes up his mind.

His decision is a massive one, as a move to Villa could get him regular first-team football, but with Spurs he would have European football on offer.

Watkins scored 26 goals last season, which led to him being called ‘top class’ by Football League expert Danny Higginbotham in The Sun, and he would surely increase Villa’s firepower if he was to join, after their struggles to find a clinical finisher last term.

Tottenham, on the other hand, want him as cover for Harry Kane, as they lack back-up options if the England captain suffers another injury.