Brentford stand firm over Chris Mepham transfer fee as Bournemouth and Leicester City circle

Wanted | Chris Mepham (right) in pre-season action against Watford
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Giuseppe Muro6 August 2018

Brentford will refuse to sell Chris Mepham to Bournemouth or Leicester City for less than £15million.

The Premier League clubs have both had bids below that rejected and could return with increased offers for the defender before Thursday’s deadline.

But Brentford will fight to keep Mepham and may even demand as much as £20m for a player who could be key to their promotion chances in the Championship.

Brentford beat Rotherham 5-1 on Saturday, the opening day of the season, and are targeting a push for the Premier League.

Mepham has four years left on his contract and the Bees will fight to keep the 20-year-old, who was given his Wales debut by manager Ryan Giggs in March.

Bournemouth have a long-standing interest in him and Leicester are looking to sign a central defender with Manchester United preparing a bid for Harry Maguire.

​Mepham was released by Chelsea at 14 and was playing Sunday League football before he joined the Brentford academy in 2012.

He has had a remarkable rise and made 23 appearances for Brentford last season.

Midfielder Ryan Woods, meanwhile, could leave Brentford for Swansea, while there could be further interest in Ollie Watkins this week after he scored in an impressive display on Saturday.

Bournemouth have had an interest in Watkins and Brentford will demand £15m for the 22-year-old forward, who joined them from Exeter last summer. Watkins scored 11 goals from the wing last season but he is set to play through the middle this term and Brentford believe his value is likely to increase as a result.

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