Chelsea could now have to pay over £75m to sign ‘amazing’ striker

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Chelsea could have to pay more than £75m for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins if they are still interested in him.

Ollie Watkins was being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before he signed his new contract, and journalist Neil Moxley has told GiveMeSport that he thinks Villa would want over £75m for their talisman if someone came knocking.

According to another article from the same outlet, Watkins is someone who Chelsea have shown an interest in.

The 27-year-old has been in fine form this season, scoring five goals in nine Premier League appearances, with one of those strikes coming against Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Aston Villa would want huge money for Ollie Watkins

Moxley believes Villa would demand a massive fee for Watkins if anyone made an enquiry about the Englishman.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “If somebody was going to come along right this very minute and try to offer a fee to entice Ollie Watkins out of Villa Park, I think you’re going to be talking £75million-plus, if not a bit more because Villa would want to be able to source a replacement.”

Is Ollie Watkins worth more than £75m?

To Villa, probably. “Today he played amazing,” Unai Emery told TNT Sports after Watkins’ hat-trick against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chelsea paid £115m to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton in the summer (Sky Sports) and he is a midfielder. With that in mind, would it be that far-fetched for Villa to demand, let’s say, £80m for a match-winner like Watkins? Not really.

Of course, resale value has to be taken into consideration here. Caicedo is only 21 years of age, so the Blues could move him on in the near future for big money, whereas Watkins is 27 and could easily see his value start to decline soon.

Nevertheless, Villa would have every right to ask for a figure around the £75m mark. Would anyone be willing to pay it?

If the England international keeps playing how he has been, then perhaps.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with Brentford’s Ivan Toney, but maybe Watkins could be one alternative if the Blues fail to land the Bees striker.