Fenerbahce are 'quietly' pursuing a deal Aston Villa Striker Ollie Watkins is behind the scenes as he looks to add a striker to his squad this summer.
Journalist Ertan Suzgun reports, Via Fenner AgencyThat the Turkish side are quietly exploring a deal behind the scenes for the 30-year-old Aston Villa forward.
Aston Villa exit unlikely
The Turkish journalist does not provide any information beyond that point. However Fener Ajans have provided information following rumors about a possible move for Mason Greenwood.
Fenerbahce appear determined to refresh their forward options this summer. Sidiki Cherif is currently the only recognized centre-forward in his team. He is set to join permanently in a €18m deal next month, but has managed only three goals in 16 appearances this season.
This appears to have prompted the Turkish side to scour the market for big name additions. And as a result they are quietly making an offer to Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa. However, there is no mention of how much they would be willing to spend on the striker.
€25m valuation
Watkins is currently rated at €25m by Transfermarkt. But Aston Villa will want at least double the goals from the striker who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season. It is hard to imagine that Fenerbahçe would ever come close to such a deal. Their current record purchase is a €28 million deal for Matteo Guendouzi.
Cherif's €18 million deal with Youssef En-Nesyri is the highest amount ever spent on a striker. They are at third and fourth position in the ranking. So, it's hard to see them completely breaking those records to sign 30-year-old Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.
It's hard to see Aston Villa even thinking about a sale this summer. Watkins is a key player under Unai Emery, is first-choice and tied to a deal until 2028. Unless they can find an adequate replacement, and receive a large fee, there is no reason for them to sell or even consider Fenerbahçe's offer.
