Fulham are the latest Premier League side to register their interest in Brentford forward Ollie Watkins, according to reports this afternoon.

The Whites are understood to have made an approach to their local rivals regarding the availability of the 24 year-old, who scored 26 goals as the Bees’ hopes of making the Premier League were dashed in the closing weeks of the regular season before Thomas Frank’s side were beaten by Joe Bryan’s brace in the play-off final at Wembley.

Fulham are in discussions with Brentford about Watkins, who has also attracted interest from the likes of Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Brom. Villa are thought to be at the front of the queue to sign the former Exeter City forward as boss Dean Smith was the man who took Watkins to Griffin Park in July 2017 for a reported £1.7m fee. The Midlands club have been rumoured to be ready to table an £18m offer – with Brentford understood to be hoping to recoup £50m for Watkins and winger Said Benrahma if the pair make expected moves to the Premier League this summer.

Watkins scored 26 goals in 78 senior appearances in three years at Exeter and was gradually converted from a left-wing role to a more orthodox centre forward last year. He finished second to Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Championship scoring charts this season – and the Cottagers are now keen to try and pair them together ahead of the new Premier League campaign next month.