Ollie Watkins Signs New Five-year Contract
Ollie Watkins today committed to a new five-year contract with Aston Villa, citing that Unai Emery was a “massive” part of his decision to stay at the club.
Despite a slow start to this season’s Premier League campaign until the past couple of games, Watkins has scored 21 times in 38 appearances under Emery in all competitions. After being recently called up again to the England squad, the Villa striker admits to having set his sights on winning both silverware and breaking some goal scoring records at the club.
Watkins currently is on 44 Premier League goals – level with Juan Pablo Angel’s Aston Villa league tally – after his hat-trick against Brighton took him past both Gareth Barry (41) and Christian Benteke’s Villa league goal tallies. In his sights this season, must be Dion Dublin’s Villa Premier League goal haul of 51.
Watkins currently boasts 44 Premier League goals, putting him level with Juan Pablo Angel’s Villa league tally. His hat-trick against Brighton propelled him past both Gareth Barry (41) and Christian Benteke’s (42) Villa league goal counts. This season, his target must be Dion Dublin’s Villa Premier League goal record of 51.
While Dublin currently holds the third position among Villa’s top goal-scorers in the Premier League era, Watkins knows that to surpass Dwight Yorke (60) and ultimately challenge Gabby Agbonlahor (74) for the top spot, signing a new contract was a necessary step.
“I’ve got some targets I’m going to hit,” admitted Watkins to the club’s website, after signing his contract. “I’m going to break Gabby’s record with the goals, I want to win a trophy. I feel like I can do that here and that’s why I’ve stayed.”
To reach the heady heights of the club’s overall league top scorers, Watkins is going to have to turn into a regular 20-goal-a-season striker. Peter McParland’s league tally of 97 could be within range, but the likes of Johnny Dixon (132), Eric Houghton (160), Billy Walker (214) and Harry Hampton (215) maybe a bridge too far.
Still, considering some Villa fan sentiment towards the striker at the start of last season, when they were calling for a replacement, it’s a great turnaround to now be considering his place amongst the very best Aston Villa goal scorers.
UTV
