Ollie Watkins has been a revelation at Aston Villa since his club-record £28m move from Brentford last summer, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in 24 games.
The 25-year-old is even being tipped for an England call-up as reward for his club form, so thanks should be given to Jack Grealish and John McGinn for apparently luring him to Villa Park.
Watkins revealed to Gaffer (via Birmingham Live): “All of the boys are welcoming and I played against a few of them in the Championship. (Jack) Grealish and John McGinn – the two main names – I even bumped into in Mykonos when they were swaying me into getting me to Villa.”
The duo’s plan worked and Watkins joined Aston Villa on a five-year deal last September. He has played every minute of every Premier League game this season and looks to have a bright future at Villa Park.
The 25-year-old bagged 25 goals in 46 games for Brentford in the Championship last season and hasn’t struggled with the step up in quality, so credit also goes to the recruitment team.
Watkins has played against Villa three times and has never been on the losing side. He supplied one assist in those head-to-heads and clearly impressed the Midlanders enough to warrant their interest.
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Although Watkins was the Championship’s second-highest scorer last season, it was still a big call for Villa to spend a club-record fee on a striker who had no previous top-flight experience.
It has definitely proven to be the right decision, so let’s be glad that Grealish and McGinn managed to entice him to Villa Park.
