Southampton: Saints show heavy interest in Championship top scorer

Southampton are said to be heavily interested in signing Brentford hotshot Ollie Watkins, who is currently the Championship’s top scorer.

According to a report from the Athletic’s David Ornstein, Saints have joined Crystal Palace in the race for his signature and are impressed by his ability to play many different positions in attack.

The report also states that clubs have been put on alert by an £18m release clause in the 24-year-old’s contract at Brentford which runs until 2023.

If Saints are keen to go for another forward this summer, then there are not many better prospects than Watkins right now.

A lot may depend on Brentford’s situation come the end of the 2019/20 season though.

The Bees are well in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League and currently sit third in the table – a position that would give them a favourable tie in the play-off semi-finals.

It could get so much so much better for them once the final five league games are played though.

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Just two points separate them and West Brom in second, and Brentford’s form looks to be far more consistent than the Baggies at the moment.

If promotion is achieved, it could prove hard for Saints to pull Watkins away from a first Premier League season with the club he has helped rise up the second-tier table.

It is also arguably not a priority for the club to bring in an attacking player at the moment with other areas in most need of additions.

Saints have four strikers already and they have been swapped in and out of the team freely with Ralph Hasenhuttl seemingly liking all of them.

The attacking-midfield positions in his 4-2-2-2 system have been filled by each of Nathan Redmond, Stuart Armstrong, Sofiane Boufal and Moussa Djenepo this season, so there does not appear to be much room for Watkins.

However, Saints may well be willing to move another player on if they feel getting him in is a real possibility.

72 goals and 34 assists in 214 games for Brentford and Exeter City proves that he would certainly be an excellent purchase if the club want to add more homegrown creativity and goalscoring to their ranks.