Aston Villa 'Prepare Opening Bid' For Ollie Watkins And Interested In Signing Said Benrahma

Aston Villa are preparing an opening bid for Ollie Watkins with the Premier League side also keeping tabs on Said Benrahma ahead of a potential £50 million double swoop.

Villa boss Dean Smith is targetting a new forward during the summer transfer window with Watkins at the top of his wishlist, according to Sky Sports.

The Brentford striker is valued at £25 million with Crystal Palace and Sheffield United also interested in snapping up the talented 24-year-old.

Image: PA

Smith also has his eyes on Watkins' brilliant teammate Benrahma who's believed to be valued at £25 million.

The Algerian winger has courted interest from a host of teams following a spectacular 2019/20 season.

Premier League new boys Leeds United have expressed an interest with Marcelo Bielsa keen to bolster his squad ahead of the new campaign.

Image: PA

Smith signed Watkins when he was Brentford manager and he spoke glowingly about the Championship star, who scored 26 league goals last season.

"Young Ollie Watkins - I tried signing him a year earlier from Exeter City but he wanted to stay another year," he said.

"I like that at even a young age he went on loan to Weston Super-Mare and scored fourteen odd goals there at a young age. He's got a great attitude and he doesn't stop working. He's a joy to work with.

"I played him a few times at striker. I always said to him he'd be a striker, he likes playing off the left and we felt that was the best area for him to go and get goals - but we played him at centre-forward at Bristol City away and he ran them ragged.

"Maupay came on and scored the winner and Ollie was disappointed that he didn't score. That's the sign for me of a top striker, he'll do well."

Image: PA

Image: PA

Smith also touched on Benrahma who was influential for Brentford as they reached the Championship play-off final after finishing third in the league.

"We were fortunate enough to see young Benrahma in the French second division on-loan from Nice.

"Really liked what I saw - he's got everything. It takes a while sometimes for people to adapt to a new country, but I was confident he'd make an impact," he added.

Will Watkins and Benrahma secure a move to the Premier League? Watch this space.

Topics: Football News, Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins, Football, Brentford, Premier League, Transfer news

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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