"That might turn his head..." - Journalist drops teasing West Ham claim on £28m target

West Ham could lure Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins to the London Stadium with Champions League football, claims Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.

The east London club are currently being linked with the England international, but Brown thinks any move would hinge on Champions League qualification.

According to Claret & Hugh, David Moyes wants to bring Watkins to the London Stadium this summer as the Scotsman’s search for a new forward goes on.

The same report states that the 26-year-old has been Moyes’ No.1 target for a while now, but Villa’s stance is that he is not for sale.

The above comes as no surprise, with Watkins currently the Villans’ first-choice striker. This season, he has played in over 30 games in all competitions for the Midlands club, while last term, he missed just one Premier League match.

Watkins joined Villa from Brentford for £28m back in 2020, so if he were to leave in the upcoming transfer window, he is unlikely to come cheap.

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Brown thinks Champions League nights at the London Stadium could tempt Watkins, but he expects Villa to play hardball if their Premier League rivals come knocking.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Daily Star reporter said: “Would Ollie Watkins leave Villa? It depends. If West Ham were to do something special and really get in the top four or get into the Champions League, that might turn his head. But he’s kind of Villa’s crown jewel, so it would be hard for them to let him go.”

It seems unlikely. As already mentioned, the former Brentford man is a key player for them. It is hard to imagine Steven Gerrard being open to a departure.

There has been some talk about Villa being interested in