Aston Villa 'close' to £33m deal for ex-NUFC target after missing out on Callum Wilson - BBC

According to the BBC, Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Ollie Watkins in a deal that could be worth a staggering £33m.

This comes after they were forced to accept defeat in their pursuit of Callum Wilson over the weekend, with the player preferring to seal a move to Tyneside instead.

Since then, it looks like they've shifted their attentions to Ollie Watkins - a player claimed to be on our summer shortlist prior to Wilson's arrival, according to The Chronicle.

That said, some are blown away by the fee they look set to play for the talented but Premier League unproven striker, with the BBC's Chief writer Phil McNulty revealing that the fee could rise from £28m to £33m!

Watkins does look a very good player, it must be said. His pace, stature, movement and ability to bring others into play really impressed me over Brentford's run to the play-off finals last summer, not to mention his 26 goals across 2019/20.

That said, I can't help but wonder if we've got the better deal paying two thirds of that potential £33m fee on Callum Wilson.

Wilson may have the lower ceiling and is four years older at 28, however Watkins will arrive as a bigger risk given he's yet to kick a ball in the Premier League.

Should Watkins make the move, it'll be Ivan Toney who'll come into the Bees starting 11 for 2020/21, with the former Mag's recent move to Brentford earning us a few million quid via a 30% sell-on clause.

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