Exclusive: Striker backed to succeed in PL if West Brom sign him after 26-goal season
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has backed Ollie Watkins to shine in the Premier League if West Brom are able to sign the Brentford striker this summer.
Albion have been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old [Daily Mail], who scored 26 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions last season as the Bees missed out on promotion from the Championship.
Since losing the play-off final to Fulham at Wembley, BBC Sport has reported that an £18million release clause has become active in Watkins’ contract.
Phillips would not mind seeing the ex-Exeter striker head to The Hawthorns this summer as he’s seen enough from him to suggest he could perform well in the top-flight for Slaven Bilic’s side.
“He was the only one of Brentford’s front-three who stood out against Fulham [in the play-off final defeat],” Phillips told West Brom News. “That just shows me that he has the capabilities to perform in big matches.
“I was hoping if Fulham didn’t go up, Mitrovic would’ve been a great shout for West Brom but Brentford haven’t gone up and it wouldn’t be a bad bit of business for Ollie Watkins to come in.
“Of course, it’s a big jump and it’s always a slight gamble but from what I’ve seen in the last two or three months, I think he could make that step up to the Premier League.”
Watkins has plenty of attributes that would suggest he would do well in the Premier League and West Brom are in desperate need of a new striker ahead of next season.
Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin had decent campaigns in the Championship but neither suggested they’d be good enough to start week in, week out in the top-flight.
As for Kenneth Zohore, it has been reported that he could be sold by Albion this summer, which further strengthens the need for a new centre-forward.
In other West Brom news, Albion are in talks to sign this player on a loan-to-buy basis.
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