In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has shared his concerns over possible interest in Ollie Watkins in the future.

Watkins only joined Villa last summer, but Hendrie is wary of potential advances from other clubs given how well the 25-year-old striker has performed this season.

Watkins has managed to reach double figures in his debut Premier League campaign, with seven of his goals coming against Liverpool and Arsenal.

The former Brentford man has undoubtedly impressed, and Hendrie believes he could soon start to attract the attention of some of the top clubs in the country.

On Watkins, the ex-Villa player told TT:

"There's been a lot of interest for certain players. I think when you look at the bigger picture of it, you know, if someone like Jack Grealish left, I think that's when it does maybe happen where it might be that Ollie Watkins thinks, 'well, there's no ambition here. We're going to have to move on; we're going to have to go to a different football club'.

"When they're playing well, there's always going to be interest for players. So, yes, there's elements that you do want to keep your best players because I feel that if Villa are going to go and push on and be a European side and possibly get into the Champions League at some stage, they're going to have to build around these key players that they've got - Ollie Watkins is one of them.

"I still feel there's more to come from him, but I do worry [ about interest from top-six sides]."

While there is nothing to suggest that Watkins is looking for or will look for a Villa exit, one player who the Midlands club could lose in the near future is captain Jack Grealish.

The attacking midfielder continues to be linked with a move away from Villa Park, with Football Insider recently reporting that he is interested in joining Manchester City.