Report: Villa close in on club-record deal for Brentford's Watkins

Aston Villa are bolstering their attack with a club-record transfer for Brentford forward Ollie Watkins.

After missing out on Newcastle-bound Callum Wilson, Villa have reportedly agreed to a £28-million fee plus £5 million in potential add-ons for Watkins, according to BBC Sport's Phil McNulty.

Watkins was named Championship Player of the Year following a stellar campaign where the 24-year-old bagged 26 league goals for the Bees, tied for the top in the second tier with Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Villa boss Dean Smith is desperate to improve his side's prowess in front of goal after narrowly securing a second straight Premier League season. Smith's lot managed 41 goals in 38 league outings, but just six of those came from forwards, with Brazilian Wesley accounting for five of the half dozen.

Wesley, who ruptured his cruciate ligament against Burnley in January, is Villa's current club-record signing after joining the Birmingham outfit in June 2019 from Club Brugge for a £22-million fee.