Everton's Striker Hunt: Is Watkins the Answer?
Word out of Finch Farm is that Everton's pursuit of a new number nine has taken a serious turn, with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins emerging as a top target. Look, Sean Dyche needs goals. Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury record is a huge concern, managing only 18 Premier League starts last season. Neal Maupay just hasn't cut it, scoring a single goal in 27 league appearances since his arrival.
The chatter suggests a fee around the £60 million mark would be needed to pry Watkins away from Villa Park. That's a staggering sum for a club that's been sailing close to financial fair play limits. Remember the £50 million they shelled out for Richarlison in 2018? This would eclipse that. But here's the thing: Watkins delivered 15 Premier League goals last term, plus six assists. He's proven he can perform at this level consistently.
Tactical Fit and Dyche's Demands
From a tactical perspective, Watkins makes sense for Dyche. He’s a relentless worker, exactly the type of striker Dyche values. He presses from the front, something Villa manager Unai Emery demanded, and he has the pace to stretch defenses. Everton often play a direct style, looking to get the ball forward quickly. Watkins' ability to run in behind and hold up play would be a significant upgrade.
Imagine him leading the line, with Abdoulaye Doucouré making late runs from midfield, or Dwight McNeil whipping in crosses. Watkins isn't just a poacher; he's got decent link-up play, too, completing 76% of his passes last season. He could be the focal point Everton has desperately lacked since Romelu Lukaku left. But £60 million for a striker who turns 28 next year? That's a huge commitment.
One scout I spoke with, who's watched Watkins closely for years, put it like this: "Ollie's engine is incredible. He'll give you everything, every single minute. But is he a true 20-goal-a-season man for £60 million? That's the gamble. For Everton, with their current situation, it's a massive roll of the dice."
Financial Tightrope for the Toffees
Everton's financial situation is, to put it mildly, precarious. They posted losses of over £370 million in the last three years. The Premier League's profit and sustainability rules are no joke. A £60 million outlay for Watkins would mean significant sales elsewhere, or a very creative payment structure. They just sold Alex Iwobi for £22 million to Fulham, and Demarai Gray is off to Saudi Arabia for around £8 million. That's a start, but it's not enough to cover a Watkins deal without further departures.
Compare this to some other recent big-money striker moves. Alexander Isak went to Newcastle for £63 million in 2022, and he's been fantastic, but he's also four years younger than Watkins. Darwin Núñez joined Liverpool for an initial £64 million, rising to £85 million, and he's had mixed results. The price tag for Watkins, while understandable given the English premium, puts immense pressure on him to deliver immediately.
It's a tough spot for Everton. They need a striker. They need goals to avoid another relegation scrap like the one they endured last season, finishing 17th with only 36 goals scored in 38 games. But spending this kind of money could hamstring them for years if it doesn't pay off. It feels like a 'win now' move, almost a desperate one, given their financial tightrope.
Aston Villa's Perspective: A Smart Sale?
For Aston Villa, selling Watkins for £60 million would be a masterstroke. They signed him from Brentford for £28 million in 2020. Doubling their money on a player who's given them three excellent seasons would be fantastic business, especially for a player approaching 28. It would give Unai Emery significant funds to reinvest in the squad, particularly as they prepare for European football next season.
Villa already have Jhon Durán, a promising young striker, and they could look to bring in another forward with the Watkins money, perhaps a younger talent with higher resale value. Emery has shown a knack for improving players and shrewd recruitment. This move would allow him to put his stamp even further on the squad.
My hot take? This deal, if it happens, screams more like a win for Aston Villa than it does for Everton. Villa get a massive cash injection, and Everton take a huge financial risk on a good, but not elite, striker. I think Watkins would score goals for Everton, absolutely. But at what cost?
The Fulham Angle: What If?
The initial whispers had Fulham in the mix for Watkins as well, especially after the departure of Aleksandar Mitrović to Al-Hilal for £46 million. Marco Silva needs a proven goalscorer. Watkins' work rate and ability to lead the line would fit well at Craven Cottage, and he'd likely get plenty of service from the likes of Andreas Pereira and Harry Wilson. But the fee is probably too rich for Fulham, who tend to be more sensible in their spending.
They've brought in Raul Jimenez from Wolves for £5.5 million, a much cheaper option, but one with question marks over his goalscoring form. Watkins would undoubtedly be an upgrade, but £60 million would be a club-record fee by a significant margin for Fulham, whose record signing is Mitrović at £22 million. It feels like they've moved on, focusing on more attainable targets.
Prediction: Everton will push hard for Watkins, but the £60 million valuation will prove too high, forcing them to look at cheaper alternatives as the transfer window draws to a close.