Aston Villa 'ready to offer Ollie Watkins a £70,000-per-week contract to land the Brentford striker

Aston Villa are reportedly ready to offer Ollie Watkins a £70,000-per-week contract to secure a move for the Brentford forward.

Watkins is Villa's top target in attack after scoring 26 goals in all competitions last season, with former Bees boss Dean Smith keen on a reunion.

The 24-year-old is believed to be valued at around £25million by Brentford after moving to a more central role last season, and has attracted interest from a host of other Premier League clubs including newly-promoted Fulham.

Villa's hierarchy will back Smith and hope to stave off the competition with a contract that will make him one of the highest earners at the club, according to the Sun.

Villa were understood to have made an opening bid of £18m for the former Exeter man, but Brentford are holding out for £25m.

Villa’s billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens will back Smith again in the market after committing more than £140million to transfers in the 2019-20 campaign, when Villa avoided relegation on the final day of the season with a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

The report also indicates the Midlands outfit are also keen on Watkins' team-mate Said Benrahma, with Brentford braced for departures from their highly-rated side following their Play-off Final defeat.

As well as in attack, Smith is seeking reinforcements in goal, at full-back, in central midfield and wide.

Sportsmail reported yesterday that Villa had made an improved £12m offer for Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash.

Villa have also been linked with a £30m move for Celtic striker Oddsone Edouard, while Manchester United are still showing interest in £70m-rated star man Jack Grealish.