GONE Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

[Banana]

Summary of Rumours so far:

Brighton: @LiveTransferNew (23k followers) [and confirmed by the well connected BFC fan @thechaffeur_ ]

"Brighton have opened talks with the representatives of Ollie Watkins. #BHAFC"​

Crystal Palace, Aston Villa The Guardian Wed 5 Aug 2020 17.37 BST

Crystal Palace are battling with Aston Villa to sign the Brentford striker Ollie Watkins and have offered a contract to Ryan Fraser, who is a free agent after leaving Bournemouth.

Watkins could be allowed to leave Brentford after their defeat by Fulham in the Championship play-off final on Tuesday but the club would demand more than £20m. The 24-year-old striker ended the season with 26 goals in 50 games and is regarded as one of the best talents in the Championship.
​

Leeds: The Athletic Jul 30, 2020

At the top end of Bielsa’s team, Leeds see several options in the Championship which would fit nicely. They rate Brentford’s Ollie Watkins — the division’s second-highest scorer this term with 25 regular-season goals, behind Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic — and see qualities in him which would suit Bielsa’s tactics: strong link-up play, slick finishing and a clear contribution to a high expected goals figure. He contributes in similar ways to Bamford, but with a considerably better conversion rate.
​

Sheffield United Daily Telegraph 5 August 2020 • 5:25pm

Aston Villa are ready to move for £25 million-rated Ollie Watkins after Brentford's failure to reach the Premier League.

Villa, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United are all interested in the Brentford striker, who is poised to leave this summer following the west London club's defeat in the Championship play-off final.​

 

[BFC1997]

As good as gone IMO. Personally think he’d be brilliant for any mid-table or bottom half PL side. I think Palace would suit him.

Posted similar numbers for us to Clayton Donaldson. Similar player really albeit Watkins at a much higher level.

Most consider Clayton a bit of a legend or at the very least a cult hero.

Suspect in a couple of years time it’ll hit home for most what an impact Ollie had on Brentford.

 

[Vid]

OUT ? Before the Fulham game he said he was looking forward to playing at LR.

 

[Banana]

OUT ? Before the Fulham game he said he was looking forward to playing at LR.

Yes, "OUT" but with a question mark. But a very feint one.

 

[Jezybee]

From the BBC Gossip page:

“Aston Villa will provide competition to Crystal Palace for Brentford striker Ollie Watkins, 24, who can leave the Bees for £18m after they failed to win promotion to the Premier League. (Express and Star)“

However, in the link https://www.expressandstar.com/spor...-villa-eye-move-for-brentfords-ollie-watkins/ it mentions nothing of the £18m and just the usual “£25m rated striker”

Where has the “can leave for £18m“ figure come from???

Edit: Now see it was from another BBC article stating a £18m release clause. Confirmed to be inaccurate by Banana - there is no release clause.

 

[Kingston Bee]

OUT ? Before the Fulham game he said he was looking forward to playing at LR.

Maybe true, but that was before we are now after the Fulham game. Keep up!

 

[UnsungZero]

He chose to stay an extra season at Exeter after Brentford first came in for him. I wouldn't rule out him deciding to stay for now with the option of moving in January.

 

[hanworthbee]

Linked to villa

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1291313324618125312

 

[Vid]

When he goes to the prem it will be to a top six club. If I had any money it would be on @rsenal.

 

[zuko]

No offense to Dean Smith, but seeing they way Ollie has massively developed since Thomas took over, why on earth would he go to back to him at Villa.

 

[grutter]

When he goes to the prem it will be to a top six club. If I had any money it would be on @rsenal.

I don't think he's at that level yet.

 

[IslandBee]

He is going to leave and it would be good to get it done nice and early so we can all move on. I would prefer Villa to Palace or Brighton - and definitely not Leeds please!

 

[Beecareful]

When he goes to the prem it will be to a top six club. If I had any money it would be on @rsenal.

 

[Beecareful]

Me too!

 

[alexcavell]

He chose to stay an extra season at Exeter after Brentford first came in for him. I wouldn't rule out him deciding to stay for now with the option of moving in January.

Yes, I feel it's more hope than expectation, but an agreement with the club that he can move on January if we're not in the promotion mix could work really well for all parties.

If he stays, we've got a seriously good chance of the top 2. No matter who we bring in as a replacement, they would take time to adapt and that could cost us a few vital points.

 

[jbee]

Yes, I feel it's more hope than expectation, but an agreement with the club that he can move on January if we're not in the promotion mix could work really well for all parties

I think if we're honest it only works for one party: us.

 

[alexcavell]

I think if we're honest it only works for one party: us.

I think Watkins' best chance of becoming a successful Premier League player is with us - we just need to get there!

 

[Doovster]

I think if we're honest it only works for one party: us.

If he stayed I would imagine at the very least he would have to be made the highest paid player in the club's history. Unlikely still as I'm sure he has PL ambitions, much like Maupay last year, and dare I say it might think he has an outside chance of the England squad if he had a strong first season in the PL.

 

[Pixelator]

Wait, wait, wait. Did someone describe Arsenal as a top 6 club? rofl

 

[Vid]

Wait, wait, wait. Did someone describe Arsenal as a top 6 club? rofl

Yes alphabetically.

 

[Vid]

I don't think he's at that level yet.

That's why he's staying.

 

[Mr Cynical]

No offense to Dean Smith, but seeing they way Ollie has massively developed since Thomas took over, why on earth would he go to back to him at Villa.

£££££££££££££££££££

 

[To Bee Someone]

Im pushed to say Ollie is certainly the best forward we have ever had. Might even say he's possibly the best player I've seen. Yes even better than Said

 

[rebus]

Im pushed to say Ollie is certainly the best forward we have ever had. Might even say he's possibly the best player I've seen. Yes even better than Said

No, no and no.

 

[Beecareful]

Yes our best in my (long) time and a top bloke too.

 

[GU24 Bee]

My Sons saying his read somewhere that Aston Villa have had a bid excepted of £45m for Watkins & Benhrama, I’m not sure where’s seen it.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

My Sons saying his read somewhere that Aston Villa have had a bid excepted of £45m for Watkins & Benhrama, I’m not sure where’s seen it.

So long as we don't accept it.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

My Sons saying his read somewhere that Aston Villa have had a bid excepted of £45m for Watkins & Benhrama, I’m not sure where’s seen it.

It's one bollox account. It's going to be a long short summer.

 

[fencer/bee]

If watkins is leaving it wont be north of watford thats for sure

 

[Robi Bee]

As good as gone i'd say. Villa and Smith are being very persistent in their interest, but I can see him doing well at Palace or Brighton. Leeds..? No chance.

 

[Mr Cynical]

As good as gone i'd say. Villa and Smith are being very persistent in their interest, but I can see him doing well at Palace or Brighton. Leeds..? No chance.

Well, Villa fans are being very persistent.. no evidence so far of any bids from Villa? Unless banana knows different? Given how many clubs are purported to be interested I’d be surprised if we agree anything this early...

 

[jbee]

If watkins is leaving it wont be north of watford thats for sure

Why?

 

[detours]

I really hope this gets sorted quickly. Fingers crossed a premier league team wants to do their business early, offers the right fee and we wish him well.

Even if he wants to stay, if some club starts putting in insulting/incremental bids for him and it drags on into the start of the season that is going to affect everyone.

Same with Benrahma.

 

[Mr Cynical]

I really hope this gets sorted quickly. Fingers crossed a premier league team wants to do their business early, offers the right fee and we wish him well.

Even if he wants to stay, if some club starts putting in insulting/incremental bids for him and it drags on into the start of the season that is going to affect everyone.

Same with Benrahma.

The club has a policy on waiting to get maximum value and that usually happens towards the end of the transfer window. It may well be that due to the one off nature of this window and the short gap between seasons we may want to get all business done early but don’t be surprised if some deals drag on til the death..

 

[fencer/bee]

Why?

Because he is very happy where he lives, been spending a lot of money on it, and does not want to move.

 

[Banana]

Because he is very happy where he lives, been spending a lot of money on it, and does not want to move.

Nothing that 50k a week won't solve.

 

[Travel Tavern Bee]

Because he is very happy where he lives, been spending a lot of money on it, and does not want to move.

He can’t move my brother in law is his gardener

 

[grutter]

He can’t move my brother in law is his gardener ��

Key question : Has he had a new shed built yet? We all know that's the deciding factor in a player staying put!

 

[fencer/bee]

Nothing that 50k a week won't solve.

True , but im just relaying what i was told .. he has no plans to leave Brentford but if he did it would have to be someone local,ish. because he doesnt want to move from Wraysbury ( this was before playoff final )

 

[Travel Tavern Bee]

Key question : Has he had a new shed built yet? We all know that's the deciding factor in a player staying put!

Nope , sorry

 

[hanworthbee]

I like him and all he scored a lot of goals but when we really needed a goal he didn't step up....

 

[AB]

I like him and all he scored a lot of goals but when we really needed a goal he didn't step up....

We really needed a goal in the second leg v Swansea...

 

[TorbayBee]

I like him and all he scored a lot of goals but when we really needed a goal he didn't step up....

Uh? If this is not a joke I think you should have a re-think

 

[Banana]

He can’t move my brother in law is his gardener

Brilliant. Can he please make sure that he looks for any sign of moving clubs. New shoes, car etc. Lots of luggage cases being delivered. Things like that.

 

[Travel Tavern Bee]

Brilliant. Can he please make sure that he looks for any sign of moving clubs. New shoes, car etc. Lots of luggage cases being delivered. Things like that.

Or saying he no longer wants a Gardener ?

 

[Banana]

Or saying he no longer wants a Gardener ?

lol

 

[Beecareful]

No player for any team in any league score every game of the season. None. It doesn't happen.

He has been truly outstanding this season.

You'll miss him when he's gone.

 

[bee good]

In my opinion Ollie could go all the way to the very top His attitude is spot on and he does have the talent. The next 2 years will be the key for him. If we had gone up our coaching staff would have optimised that opportunity for him. He's going to go to some other team where it may work out .. but they won't know him as well as Brentford do so its going to be a bit of a punt now.

 

[allanfinnie]

I like him and all he scored a lot of goals but when we really needed a goal he didn't step up....

Gotta be a wind up ?

 

[Beecareful]

Sunday Times (£) have him in their Window Is Open 'movers and shakers' piece. Our red hot property linked with usual predators plus Southampton. Only Championship player to get a piece.