Fowler: “Liverpool Should Get Watkins in For a Couple of Years” | OneFootball

Fowler Eyes Coaching Return and Sporting Director Role

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has expressed a keen interest in returning to football in a new capacity, either in the dugout or the boardroom. Speaking in an interview with i News, Fowler opened up about his aspirations to re-enter the game, while offering his take on Liverpool’s summer recruitment prospects.

The former striker, revered at Anfield for his clinical finishing and iconic status, was clearly energised by Liverpool’s recent Premier League title win, sealed emphatically with a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur. As the celebrations fade, attention now shifts to what comes next – and for Fowler, that means both on and off the pitch.

Coaching Ambitions and Director Dreams

“I do want to get back into the game as soon as possible,” Fowler revealed. “As a coach or a manager, I feel as though I’ve got a lot to give on that front. But the sporting directorship and technical side of the game is just an avenue that I could lean towards in the future.

“I want to look into the eyes of a sporting director and find out what they want from the game as well.”

Fowler’s comments come at a pivotal time for Liverpool, with Arne Slot set to take over the managerial reins and Richard Hughes preparing to begin his tenure as sporting director. The summer window is expected to be Hughes’ first major test, and Fowler made it clear he would relish such responsibility.

Summer Recruitment Strategy for Liverpool

Fowler offered his perspective on Liverpool’s approach to the upcoming transfer market. The club’s emphatic return to domestic glory has only sharpened focus on the need to sustain success – and that means smart additions.

“It’s a difficult one because as a supporter, you want them to sign every player under the sun! If you’re not signing players, you risk potentially going backwards,” Fowler noted.

With Darwin Nunez facing an uncertain role under a new regime, Fowler believes Liverpool will be active in the hunt for a reliable No 9 – but warned that inflated valuations could complicate matters.

Watkins or Isak? Fowler Weighs Up Striker Options

“Maybe Nunez will be a name on a few teams’ lists because he hasn’t played the amount of games he’d want to, so you assume Liverpool will try to bring a No 9,” said Fowler.

He pointed to two high-profile Premier League forwards – Alexander Isak and Ollie Watkins – as possible targets, albeit with caveats attached.

“The problem is clubs know that they are potentially on the lookout for a No 9, so the prices will become silly. If you look at Isak, he’s going to be £100m plus easily. He’s a wonderful player, but Liverpool may not want to pay that, and they’ll look around,” he explained.

“You could look at Ollie Watkins. He doesn’t really fit the model in terms of what Liverpool want, given his age [29 years old], but I’d go and get him for a couple of years because he’s a tremendous player and established and experienced in the Premier League.”

With his insider’s eye and emotional investment in the club, Fowler’s insights carry significant weight – and could reflect the conversations already happening behind closed doors at Kirkby.

Statistical Summary of Watkins

The radar chart for Ollie Watkins offers a compelling visual profile of the Aston Villa striker’s all-round contribution over the past 365 days (3,275 minutes). His metrics reveal why he remains a prominent name in transfer discussions, including potential links to clubs like Liverpool.

Elite Creativity and End Product

Watkins stands out in attacking metrics, particularly with 96th percentile for assists and 77th for expected assisted goals (xAG)—an elite figure for a forward, underlining his dual role as both scorer and creator. He also performs strongly in non-penalty expected goals (71st percentile) and combined xG + xAG (76th percentile), further confirming his consistent threat in front of goal.

Active in Possession Play

In possession, Watkins shows decent metrics in key transitional phases. He ranks in the 82nd percentile for progressive carries, indicating a strong ability to drive the ball forward—an essential trait for pressing systems. His 68th percentile for pass attempts and 63rd percentile in touches point to a forward who is comfortable linking play, not just finishing moves.

However, his successful take-ons (24th percentile) and progressive passes (20th percentile) suggest he isn’t tasked with creative buildup through dribbling or passing from deep positions, possibly reflecting Villa’s system or his role within it.

Defensive Work-Rate

Defensively, Watkins provides above-average output for a striker. Notably, he sits in the 61st percentile for percentage of dribblers tackled, and 25th percentile for combined tackles and interceptions. These figures are modest but signal a willingness to engage off the ball, aligning with teams that demand forward pressing.

Verdict

Ollie Watkins offers a rare blend of goal threat, creative output, and work rate. While not an archetypal Liverpool forward due to age and stylistic fit, his numbers suggest he’d bring ready-made quality to any top-six side.