Chelsea eyeing January deal for 27-year-old Aston Villa star

Chelsea are keen to add Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins in January

According to the Si Phillips Talks Chelsea podcast via Football365. (h/t The Birmingham Mail), Premier League giants Chelsea are keen to add Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins to their roster in the January transfer window. The English ace is one of the most prolific attackers in the Premier League today.

Chelsea have endured a difficult start to their Premier League campaign, winning just one of their first four games in the competition. This victory came against bottom-placed Luton Town with Mauricio Pochettino and Co faltering against competent opposition.

A major reason for Chelsea’s struggles is the lack of an infallible goalscorer upfront. Nicolas Jackson has been trusted to lead the line but is yet unproven at the top level as a consistent goalscorer. It is imperative that we bring in a proven goal-getter in the summer, arming us well for the business end of the campaign.

Watkins certainly fits the bill and is an experienced player with plenty of Premier League experience to boot. Also capable of playing out wide if needed, the Englishman could slot right into Mauricio Pochettino’s system, bringing valuable experience to what is largely a young side.

The 27-year-old is not a priority target, however, and remains an option for the Blues should they make a move. Others on the list include Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David. Any of the three players would be a considerable improvement over the options Pochettino currently has at his disposal at Chelsea.

The striker is a key player for Unai Emery and it is entirely plausible that the Midlands side will not let him leave without a fight. At 27, Watkins is in the prime of his career and should demand a considerable transfer fee. But then Todd Boehly has shown little concern for price as long as he gets his players.

Good in the air and also fast enough to get in behind opposition defences, Watkins is a dynamic player whose strengths could suit Chelsea to a tee. Whether it will come to fruition, however, remains to be seen.

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Goals win you games and unless Pochettino can add reliable firepower to his ranks, he could see his side face frustrations this season. Whole Watkins might not prove to be the most well-known name out there, he could very well prove to be a shrewd addition.