By Noel Whelan

8th Sep, 2020 | 8:30pm

Exclusive: Aston Villa tipped by Whelan to sign English ace after big Sky reveal

Noel Whelan has tipped Aston Villa to go all out to sign Brentford striker Ollie Watkins having missed out on Callum Wilson this week.

The former Leeds United and Coventry striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, claimed that losing out to Newcastle United will “give Villa the determination” to get a deal for Watkins, 24, over the line.

Sky Sports revealed today that Villa had agreed a club-record £33million fee including add-ons with Brentford for the Englishman’s services.

Football Insider revealed on Friday that a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs had been made with the centre-forward keen to link up with his former boss Dean Smith.

Villa had also had a £20million bid for Callum Wilson accepted over the weekend but the England international opted to move to Newcastle United, a transfer that was confirmed yesterday.

When asked by Football Insider if the Claret and Blue would now move swiftly to finalise a deal for Watkins given they had missed out on Wilson, Whelan said:

“I think they will go all out for Watkins now.

“They have missed out on Callum Wilson and you have to applaud Newcastle for that signing. Great bit of business from Steve Bruce.

“It had gone quiet on Ollie Watkins but it now looks like there was things in the pipeline for Villa. I think losing out on Wilson will give Aston Villa the determination to go all out and get a deal for Watkins over the line.”  

Waktins scored 26 goals in 49 appearances Championship appearances last season but narrowly missed out on promotion through the play-offs.

The former Exeter City forward has three years remaining on his contract at Griffin Park.

In other Aston Villa news, it can be REVEALED that the club have made a move to sign player in the last year of contract with £20million enough to seal a deal.