Aston Villa make breakthrough in talks over Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa have made a breakthrough in talks with Brentford over the signing of Ollie Watkins, according to Football Insider. The Premier League club have told the Bees that they are ready to pay more than £20 million to sign the 24-year-old, who can play as a forward or as an attacking midfielder.

Watkins himself is keen on a move to Villa, having worked with the Villans’ manager Dean Smith at Brentford. Villa are willing to hand the 24-year-old a five-year contract and more than treble his current salary at the Bees.

The Englishman scored 26 goals and provided three assists in 49 Championship matches for Brentford last season, according to WhoScored, as the Bees reached the playoff final. During the 2018-19 campaign, Watkins made 35 starts and six substitute appearances in the league for the London club, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in the process, according to WhoScored.