Brighton are fast homing in on Exeter City’s latest hotshot striker Ollie Watkins

BRIGHTON are lining up a January bid for Exeter whizkid Ollie Watkins.

But they face strong competition from Championship rivals Huddersfield and Brentford.

3

Watkins, 20, has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in the lower leagues since becoming a regular in the Grecians' first team last season.

Keep up to date with ALL the EFL news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.

He hit nine goals last term and has three for this campaign so far, including one in City's 3-2 win over Chelsea Under-23s in the EFL Trophy.
Brighton, under boss Chris Hughton, have worked the League One and Two markets well in recent years, plucking the likes of Connor Goldson and Jamie Murphy from obscurity.

Related Stories

HARRY'S NET PROFIT

England captain Harry Kane's eye-watering net worth revealed

On yer way

Andre Onana sensationally told to QUIT Man Utd by ex-star after nightmare errors

RUB-BING IT IN

Amorim knew Man Utd was a mess... but Ratcliffe crew could be biggest yet

GRINCH KYLE

Love rat Kyle Walker didn't give Xmas gifts to his kids with Lauryn Goodman

The same can be said for Huddersfield with the signings of Jack Payne and Nahki Wells.
While Brentford are the kings of the trade, bringing in Dan Bentley, Romaine Sawyers and John Egan just this summer.

3

3

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale has a great record of developing young talent such at Matt Grimes, who was sold to Swansea for over a £1million last year.
But the dapper boss knows he is facing a losing battle to hang onto Watkins, such is the interest in the Torbay-born starlet.