Leeds United could be offered Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins in next week – Dean Jones
Leeds United could be one of the clubs offered to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins over the next week, according to Dean Jones.
The journalist has reacted to reports by Football Insider suggesting that Steven Gerrard is happy to offload the England international with their relationship tense.
Jones admitted in situations like this, intermediaries may start to make contact with clubs that are obviously looking to strengthen the final third in the scenario with Everton and Crystal Palace also mentioned.
Speaking to Give Me Sport in his latest interview, Jones namechecked the Whites as one of the clubs who may be looked at given their need for a striker.
“What would happen in a situation like this is, typically, intermediaries start targeting obvious clubs when a player is made to feel like they don’t have much of a future,” he said.
“So, if that is the case with Watkins like it’s been reported, then I would expect Leeds, Crystal Palace, and Everton also be offered his services in the next week or so just to gauge how much interest there is out there.”
No, thanks.
Given that Aston Villa paid almost £30million for Watkins, it would likely take Leeds smashing their transfer record to get this deal over the line.
Andrea Radrizzani has set cash aside to do just that for a new striker, but we must be aiming much higher than someone who has plainly struggled in the Premier League.
Gerrard not finding a spot for Watkins in his starting XI last weekend in their defeat against Bournemouth says it all, with a striker consistently finding the net something we need.
Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt are our current options, so Watkins fits the profile of someone who fits in between them experience-wise, but that is about it.
With less than three weeks to go in the window now, we are going to see more and more strikers linked with Elland Road, but it is all about filtering down the truth from just plain old rumours.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has finally responded as transfer talk surrounding Ismaila Sarr goes into overdrive this week