Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has hinted at making a bid for Leeds target Ollie Watkins.
Former Leeds United manager Steve Evans
Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has hinted that he made a bold January move for Exeter City striker Ollie Watkins, as quoted by Devon Live.
Watkins, 21, has emerged as one of the Football League’s top young talents, as having hit nine goals last season, the attacker has notched 14 goals this term.
The youngster will be Exeter’s main hope in their push for promotion to League One, but whether the Grecians go up or not, they will again have to fend off interest in Watkins.
Recent reports from The Sun claimed that Leeds United are eyeing up a summer move to land Watkins, with Garry Monk lining up a raid on Paul Tisdale’s men.
Watkins is bound to have a number of suitors this summer, but a surprise club have emerged as an interested party in 2017, as Mansfield Town are allegedly keen to land Watkins in an ambitious move.
The Mansfield and Ashfield Chad reported in January that Mansfield had failed with a £350,000 bid rejected for Watkins, with manager Steve Evans keen to sign him having been interested in working with him at former club Leeds United.
Now, having witnessed Exeter come from 3-0 down to draw Yeovil Town 3-3, Mansfield boss Evans has been quoted by Devon Live as saying that he did try and buy an Exeter player – and hinted that it was indeed Watkins that he wanted.
Doncaster Rovers’ Tommy Rowe in action with Exeter City’s Ollie Watkins
“It’s the character that impresses me,” said Evans. “I know Paul Tisdale’s got that character and I know his young team have as well. We tried to buy one of those players and they are full of talent.
“It’s the nature of football (the 3-3). Nothing surprises you in this game any more, though it did raise an eyebrow. I watched extended highlights and the reality is that Yeovil could have been further in front. When you’ve got character and players like Watkins, there is always a chink of light,” he added.
Watkins leaving Exeter for Mansfield is completely far-fetched, as with Championship clubs interested, making a sideways move to Field Mill seems almost infeasible this summer, should Mansfield rekindle that interest.
Evans may well have wanted to work with Watkins at Leeds, but he may now be forced watch on as the talented attacker heads to Elland Road this summer, with Monk far more likely to land Watkins than his predecessor, given the gulf between Leeds and Mansfield.
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