From Villa Park to San Siro? Ollie Watkins Attracts AC Milan Interest

Ollie Watkins could be playing in Serie A next season after AC Milan entered the race to sign the Aston Villa striker, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

Watkins has endured a difficult Premier League campaign so far, culminating in his recent exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad for pre World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Unless the former Brentford favourite rediscovers his best form he won’t be on the plane to the USA this summer.

So, it is believed, according to sources in Northern Italy, Watkins could be eyeing a move from Villa Park to revive his career. And AC Milan are understood to be strongly courting Watkins.

Milan’s target is contracted to Europa League chasing Villa until 2028 having signed a five-year deal in 2023. 

As exclusively reported by SportsBoom earlier this month, Newcastle United have also earmarked Watkins as a summer target. 

Last summer, Watkins was linked with a move to Manchester United prior to the Red Devils capture of Benjamin Sesko. But Villa’s £60 million valuation has dropped noticeably since then.

Hitman Watkins On Wish List

Milan are currently second in the table behind city rivals Inter. But only Naples have scored fewer goals than Milan among the top five sides. 

They have previously signed Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku at a joint cost of £90million with mixed results.

Now, they see a fully firing Watkins as key to boosting their goal totals. Last season the England international netted 17 goals and claimed 14 assists.

This term, the Three Lions absentee has managed 10 goals and two assists in all competitions.

Despite the drop off Milan are thought to be keen to add him to their roster. 

No AC player has scored at least 20 goals since the 2011-12 season when Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished top of the goals column with 28. Could Watkins end that search?

Villa paid Brentford £28million for his services in 2020 when they made the former Exeter Academy graduate their record signing.