Town Linked With New Move for Watkins - Ipswich Town News
Town are reportedly set to renew their interest in Barnsley winger Marley Watkins with Bristol City also said to be keen.
According to The Sun, the Blues and Robins are set for a £1.5 million fight for the 26-year-old, who can also play up front.
The Blues had a £1 million offer for Watkins turned down in August following Daryl Murphy’s departure for Newcastle, shortly after he had scored and claimed an assist in Town’s 4-2 opening day win over the South Yorkshiremen at Portman Road.
Lewisham-born Watkins was brought up in Swansea and joined the youth set-up with the Welsh club.
Watkins, who is 6ft 1in tall, moved on before making a senior appearance and broke into first-team football with Cheltenham before joining Bath City, initially on loan, and then Hereford United in 2012.
A year later he moved on to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he scored the opening goal in the 2-1 2015 Scottish Cup final win against Falkirk, before signing for Barnsley in the summer of 2015. He has made 55 starts and nine sub appearances for the Tykes, scoring 13 goals.
Primarily a right-sided midfielder for much of his career, Watkins can also operate on the left and as a centre forward, having played there for Barnsley earlier this season and previously at Caley Thistle.
Watkins, whose grandfather was famous Welsh poet Vernon Watkins, a close friend of Dylan Thomas, has previously been named on standby for Wales but without making it into a squad.
With his Barnsley contract up in the summer Watkins seems likely to move on for less than the £1.5 million reported if he is unwilling to agree new terms at Oakwell.
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