Ollie Watkins could make a move to the Premier League this summer, with Sheffield United and Southampton both interested, according to Sky Sports News.

It has been a rapid rise for the 23-year-old, who was playing for Exeter City in the fourth tier as recently as 2017.

That is where he made a name for himself, and prompted Brentford to spend around £1.8 million for his services. Since joining the Bees he hasn't looked back, and has looked more than comfortable in his two years in the Championship.

It is no surprise therefore that he has appealed to the likes of Chris Wilder and Ralph Hassenhuttl.

Watkins is a key player in a Brentford side which plays some of the most attractive football in the Championship. Alongside Neal Maupay the pair are a menace for defences, and the flexibility he shows when joining the attack could work in the Premier League.

Transfermarkt value him at £7.2m but Brentford will likely hold out for more than that since he has two years remaining on his contract. Also, young English talent does not come cheap, and that will work in Brentford's favour.

His stats from last season are very impressive, here we take a look at what Sheffield United and Southampton fans can look forward too...

 

The forward made 41 appearances in the Championship last season, scoring ten and assisting six in the process, an improvement on the 14 goals he directly contributed to the previous year.

Another impressive stat is his pass success rate of 77.2%, given that he spends a lot of time in the opposition's final third. It was this passing success which led him to work so well with the likes of Maupay and Said Benrahma.

Another aspect of his game is key passes. He averaged 1.7 per match last season, meaning he set up almost two chances per game for his team mates. This was a major reason behind Brentford being the Championship's joint fifth highest scorers with 73.

His average of one dribble per match shows his all-round ability, as does his average of 2.2 shots per match. If he can improve upon those stats further next season, particularly in turning those shots into goals, then he will be a success at whichever club he plays for.

At the moment, Watkins is a player with many talents but he doesn't excel in one particular area of his game. He will need to add this to his game to cut it at the Premier League, but he could do so at Sheffield United or Southampton under managers who will allow him a chance to prove himself.