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Brentford win race for Exeter City ace Ollie Watkins

(Photo: Action Images)

By Adam Ellis

Ollie Watkins is set to seal a move to the Championship after Brentford won the race for his signature with an £1.8million bid.

The deal, which includes add-ons thought to dwarf the initial £1.8million fee, will be completed once the EFL Young Player of the Year has passed his medical and concluded the formalities of his personal terms.

Dean Smith has been wanting to add to his options in attack following the record £15million fee received for Scott Hogan in January and in Watkins will enlisted one of the lower leagues’ brightest prospects.

Leeds United were keen on the striker earlier this summer but any approach was scuppered by the appointment of new manager Thomas Christiansen, who brought his own list of transfer targets. While Derby turned their attentions elsewhere after re-evaluating their needs at the end of the season, and QPR and Bristol City sent scouts to watch Watkins.

Grecians boss said of the 21-year-old in April, “Everyone’s very proud of him, it’s an indication again of the development we have in the youth system and the opportunity we are serving to give those players.

“We’re all very pleased for Ollie and we’re very proud of him.”

Watkins fired Exeter into the League Two play-off final in May by netting two goals in the semi-final second leg against Carlisle United, bringing his tally for the season to 16 goals in 52 appearances.

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