By 
The likes of Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and more could move on following Brentford’s Play-Off Final defeat.
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Following Brentford’s 2-1 After-Extra-Time loss to Fulham this evening in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final, the Bees are resigned to another season in the second tier.
This means that the sides unlikely stars, the likes of Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins, Ethan Pinnock, David Raya are now an easier poach for Premier League sides – namely Aston Villa.
Aston Villa are not the only side with interest in these players, however, with a number of the newly promoted sides – West Bromwich Albion and Leeds – also interested in some of these names.
Perhaps the most exciting of the players, Algerian international Said Benrahma, has attracted interest from more ‘elite’ clubs in the Premier League like Chelsea and Arsenal.
Dean Smith will be fully aware of the talents available from Brentford from his time as their manager, and this may have some pull when attempting to secure their signature. Their failure at promotion this season will also do the same.
Whilst Benrahma is attracting interest for his skills, Ollie Watkins is attracting interest from the likes of Leeds for his high-scoring season – where the forward scored 26 goals and assisted three – matching Aleksandar Mitrovic.
There’s also Raya – who despite his gaffe this evening at Wembley is still a strong keeper, and Ethan Pinnock, who is a central defender still before his peak.
The queues will be long and winding for some of Brentford’s players, and the one thing that Aston Villa and other suitors will have to attempt to avoid is a bidding war, which Queens Park Rangers seem to be hoping for with interest for Eberechi Eze.
Brentford will be happy(ish) to sell their assets. It’s the way that their club is run – sign low, sell high and re-invest – in the shortest of explanations.
Whether the likes of these players can make the step up to the peak of English football remains to be seen, but clubs are going to act fast to secure the signature of some of the Sky Bet Championship’s most exciting players.
Good thing Dean Smith’s at Wembley this evening, then.
I’m surprised that you’ve not mentioned Rico Henry given his previous connection to Walsall and the Villa management team. A good young left-back as an understudy at a reasonable price seems ideal.