Aston Villa expert issues verdict on ‘big £50m signing’ after Ollie Watkins twist
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Aston Villa should build the side around a resurgent Ollie Watkins – with a “big £50million signing” in attack no longer necessary.
The former Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, conceded more striker cover is needed if his old side are “serious about breaking into the top seven” next season.
Watkins scored just one Premier League goal before the World Cup but has managed six strikes in his last seven top-flight outings.
The best form of his Aston Villa career to date has come after he was made the club’s undisputed first-choice forward – with Danny Ings securing a move to West Ham in January.
Unai Emery went public with his desire to draft in a replacement for Ings – but a late-window move failed to materialise.
Despite his recent form, Watkins was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad.
Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “We’ve got to build around Watkins in the seasons to come.
“He’s leading the line well and he’s finally becoming that goalscorer we needed.
“There was talk of this big-money signing coming in at the end of the season. I’m not sure we need that – but we do need cover.
“Duran is still a young lad. If there are injuries then Villa would be short. A striker still has to be at the top of the shopping list, but it’s got to be the right one.
“If we’re serious about breaking into the top seven, then we need that cover.
“It won’t be a big £50m signing, but getting someone with a good amount of experience would be sensible.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire weighs in as Aston Villa “forced” to pay £10m after ex-owner goes “off the radar”.