Why Brentford should keep hold of Ollie Watkins amidst Tottenham interest
According to the Daily Mail, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are planning a January swoop for Brentford forward Ollie Watkins. The Spurs scouts are closely monitoring the progress of the player.
The north London club made a record for not even spending a penny in the summer. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino has an interest in the 22-year-old forward in order to strengthen the squad in the winter window. (Daily Mail)
While this would be a great move for Tottenham, Brentford cannot afford to lose one of their main assets, especially during a season in which they are in possible contention for a promotion push.
Watkins – an integral part of the Brentford set-up
Predominantly a left winger, Watkins is adept at playing as a number nine or as a support striker. He has been in great form for the Bees – the 22-year-old has netted six goals and supplied two assists in 15 appearances in the Championship this season. He is physically strong with a height of over 6ft, making him a genuine threat in both boxes.
The Englishman possesses the raw pace to run past defenders and be a real threat on the counter. He can dribble past opponents, at a rate of one per game, and has the propensity of delivering key passes at an average of 1.2 per game.
A goal-scoring winger is so important to any team and Watkins shoots from various angles to test the goalkeepers. He does that on an average of 2.5 times per game.
Watkins is such an important figure at Brentford right now, hence, it is a cliche to think that the Bees shouldn’t let this asset go, especially during the winter window. It is never easy to replace a player mid-way through the season.
From the player’s perspective, if he moves to a big club like Tottenham, the prominence will get enhanced, but the playing time would drastically decrease too.
Spurs have quality in their attack, with the likes of Lucas Moura and Heung Min-Son fighting for a place on the left wing, and many others being present to support Harry Kane.
Therefore, the 22-year-old Watkins should now concentrate on pushing his current team towards a promotion. Sometime down the line, a big move will come automatically.
Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com