Chelsea are reportedly looking at 24-year-old Brentford forward Ollie Watkins to boost their attacking ranks in the January transfer window.
According to a report from Daily Star, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are considering a raid for Brentford attacker Ollie Watkins as manager Frank Lampard seeks reinforcements in the attacking unit before the end of the January transfer window.
Chelsea are on the lookout to bolster their attack as Lampard is unhappy with the club’s ability to kill off opponents this season in spite of creating chances. The lack of clinical touch in the final third almost hurt the Blues in their most recent fixture against Hull City in the FA Cup and the manager is intent on rectifying the situation at the earliest.
Moreover, there are question marks over the future of Olivier Giroud, who is intent on leaving the club this month, while Tammy Abraham’s recent injury has made the need for reinforcements dire. To that end, Chelsea had been linked with PSG’s Edinson Cavani and most recently AC Milan forward Krzysztof Piatek.
And, as per latest reports the West Londoners are also looking at Brentford’s Ollie Watkins as a potential option should their approaches for their primary targets fail to materialize.
Watkins signed for Brentford in 2017 from Exeter City and has grown into an integral player for the Bees. Till date, the 24-year-old has featured 122 times for the club, scoring 41 goals and setting up 17 more. The Englishman is enjoying his most prolific campaign this time out, having already netted 18 goals in 28 Championship outings.
Not a natural centre-forward by trade, Watkins’ shift into a central role from the flanks in the ongoing campaign under manager Thomas Frank has unleashed his best this term – he is the joint top-scorer in the Championship, inadvertently putting him on the radars of clubs such as Chelsea.
The 24-year-old’s form has been crucial to the Bees’ push for a finish in the playoff positions, as they currently occupy the fifth place in the league table, just five points below the second-place, which would seal an automatic promotion for them.
Watkins is contracted with Brentford till the summer of 2023, with the option of extending it by a further year, having penned a new contract in August 2019. So, it will likely take a big offer from Chelsea to convince the Bees to part with him, especially with them pushing for promotion.
Watkins would be a handy option for Chelsea as he would offer depth in the attacking department in a central role, to which he has adapted brilliantly this term, as well as his natural role on the flanks. But, it remains to be seen if the Blues do act on their reported interest in the 24-year-old before the transfer window slams shut.
