Ollie Watkins tipped to make sensational return to Brentford – ‘they’re doing all they can’
Brentford may be prepared to bring Ollie Watkins back to the club if Igor Thiago departs in the January transfer window.
That is according to ex-Aston Villa, Everton, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Watkins’ experience could be valuable to Keith Andrews’ squad.
Thiago is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, amid his scintillating form for Brentford this season.
Aston Villa will only be able to sign players in January if they sell, with Watkins valued at £35million by the club.
Brentford could pursue Ollie Watkins deal
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that Brentford do not want to sell Thiago, and will be doing all they can to keep hold of the Brazilian striker.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness has praised manager Andrews for his time at the club so far.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “They will definitely be hoping to keep hold of him [Thiago]. Brentford are not a selling club.
“As I say, I’ve got to eat my words of what I said about the manager coming in. He’s done well, he’s got some good results, he’s got the team playing for him, and they will be doing all they can to keep stability in that squad.
“And with the new minority owners coming in, I don’t believe there’s any sort of cash crisis or anything like that at all at Brentford, very far from it. They’ve got a great chief executive in John Varney who’s running a stable ship. They are going to do all they can.
“But sometimes if a player agitates, we know player power these days, it might not be the worst option to bring some experience back. I think Watkins has certainly got a few good seasons left in him, and I think he might flourish in that sort of environment. So Keith Andrews may be thinking about something like that.”
Brentford pursuing AC Milan striker
Brentford are exploring a move for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez in January, who is also of interest to fellow Premier League club Sunderland.
The Bees have been reliant on Thiago for goals, with the 24-year-old having netted 11 of their 21 strikes in the Premier League this season.
Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade are Brentford’s next top goalscorers with three a piece, which means replacing Thiago would be crucial should he depart.