The figure at which Ollie Watkins is set to join Aston Villa for from Brentford was enough to put Tottenham Hotspur off from making a move, according to The Athletic.

The Brentford man tore the Championship up last season as the Bees made the play-off final in the second tier but as soon as Fulham beat them at Wembley, speculation was that Watkins could be moving on this summer.

So it seems, too, with a big-money move to Aston Villa on the cards and it is at a price where, according to the report, Tottenham cannot go right now.

Jose Mourinho wants to sign a new striker to challenge Harry Kane and provide cover but it might make sense that, with that remit, the club doesn't want to spend that kind of cash.

Watkins, then, seems set to spend the next part of his career at Villa.

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The Verdict

This is probably a smart move from Spurs in all fairness.

We're talking big money here and if Tottenham can't see him playing every game - as he well might struggle to do so behind Kane - then it would be silly business to compete with Villa for that price.

The search for Spurs, then, continues.