KEY POINTS

  • Ollie Watkins has scored 12 league goals for Aston Villa this season
  • Aston Villa signed Watkins last summer for around $46 million
  • He scored a hat-trick in Aston Villa's 7-2 win over Liverpool last October

Liverpool FC are reportedly chasing Aston Villa's record signing Ollie Watkins ahead of the 2021 summer transfer window.

Liverpool are looking to sign a new forward this summer to strengthen their current attack, which misfired on most occasions this season. The recruiting team of the Reds is assessing potential forward options who can fit into Jurgen Klopp's style of play and Watkins is on their radar, unnamed sources have told Football Insider. International Business Times could not verify it independently.

Watkins netted a hat-trick in Aston Villa's crushing 7-2 win over Liverpool at home last October and he also scored in the return leg, which his side lost 2-1 at Anfield earlier this month.

In the ongoing 2020-21 Premier League, which is Watkins' first appearance in the English top-flight league, he has netted 12 goals and provided three assists while starting in all of Aston Villa's 30 league fixtures.

Watkins has an excellent eye for goal and his intense pace makes him a great fit in Klopp's pressing game at Liverpool. Even though he is being used purely as a center-forward at Villa Park, Watkins is believed to be a great option on either of the wings. In addition to this, his aerial prowess makes his case stronger.

After spending three full seasons at Brentford, a side that competes in England's second-tier league – The Championship, Watkins moved to Aston Villa in the summer of 2020. He netted 25 goals and three assists in the Championship in the 2019-20 season that caught the eye of Aston Villa. They signed the young forward at a club-record fee of around $46 million.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins reacts after his late equaliser was disallowed
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins joined the Villa Park side ahead of the 2020-21 campaign POOL / Julian Finney

On Monday, Liverpool were denied a place in the top four of the league table after Leeds United held the defending champions at a 1-1 draw at home. Had the Reds won the game, Liverpool would have replaced West Ham on goal difference in the fourth spot.

Sadio Mane put Liverpool 1-0 up in the first half but Leeds' Diego Llorente netted an equalizer just a few minutes before the full-time whistle to ruin the Reds' party at Elland Road.

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