Aston Villa facing Ollie Watkins nightmare amid Liverpool transfer interest | OneFootball

Aston Villa could be set for a summer nightmare amid reports claiming that Premier League champions Liverpool are interested in signing Ollie Watkins.

What’s the story?

Dean Smith’s side have seen the former Brentford ace take to the Premier League like a duck to water, bagging an impressive 14 goals across all competitions in his debut campaign with the club.

Football Insider have claimed that Liverpool – or Merseyside Red, as John McGinn hilariously named them following the whole European Super League debacle – are keen on luring Watkins to Anfield this summer.

The report added that Jurgen Klopp’s side are keeping tabs on the £28.8m-rated striker, who “is on their radar because he has blistering pace, can play a quick tempo game and has an eye for goal.”

Nightmare for Dean Smith

Given how he has performed in his first season with Aston Villa, it’s only logical to think that Watkins could go to even greater heights with a full campaign of Premier League football under his belt.

The striker has been leading Villa’s charge to a surprise European spot for next season and has often been someone to rise to the big occasion, netting in home and away fixtures against Liverpool (including a hat-trick at Villa Park) and also against Arsenal.

It’s no surprise that Klopp and Liverpool have their eye on signing a “machine” like Watkins, and it will leave Smith very worried about trying to hold on to his main man up front.

The prospect of playing for a team challenging for titles both domestically and in Europe will be a tantalising one, and Smith will have to use his powers of persuasion to ensure that Watkins’ head doesn’t get turned.

Liverpool have already shown in recent seasons that they are ready to spend big money on players they want – you only have to look at the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to see that.

Villa will be desperately hoping that they can avoid the nightmare of the Reds coming in to pinch Watkins this summer.

Meanwhile, Villa are ready to reignite their interest in this star…