According to a report from The Sun, Premier League side Sheffield United are ready to splash the cash to try and sign Brentford attacker Ollie Watkins, with manager Chris Wilder willing to bid around £15 million.
Brentford forward Ollie Watkins has enjoyed a thoroughly successful start to the new season from a personal standpoint, while Brentford have struggled to live up to expectations in the early stages of the season.
The Bees currently sit it in 17th place despite Watkins’ strong start to the season. The 23-year-old has scored seven goals in 11 Championship appearances so far, including a hat-trick against Barnsley in the latter stages of September. His seven goals make up the vast majority of Brentford’s league goals this season, having scored nine goals so far across the entire team.
Over the course of the summer transfer window, Watkins was reportedly attracting significant transfer attention from a number of Premier League clubs, so it is unsurprising to see that the interest has rekindled after his strong start to the season.
Crystal Palace are among those that were said keen on a summer deal for Watkins as they saw him as a potential replacement for Wilfred Zaha – who was heavily linked a move away over the summer. However, they were priced out of a move for the Brentford man and Zaha ended up remained at Selhurst Park.
Opinion
The news of returning interest in Watkins will surely unnerve Brentford fans, but given his great start to the season it may not come as much of a surprise.
The club were able to fend off interest in the summer transfer window and since the departure of Neal Maupay, he has only gained more plaudits, now starring in a centre forward role rather than out wide.
Given his strong start to the season in a more unfamiliar position, it could be the time for Watkins to make the step up to the Premier League. Brentford may be unwilling to let him leave mid way through the season to boost their own chances of promotion, but if Sheffield United or any other Premier League clubs offer big money for the attacker, they may look to cash in while they can.
