Aston Villa's transfer business is beginning to come together nicely. 

The Villans secured the acquisition of full-back Matty Cash in midweek.

The former Nottingham Forest defender was a star in the Championship last season so they have moved well to bring a player of his calibre to the club.

It would seem that Villa have changed their approach from last summer, a period of time where they spent an absurd £140m on new players.

However, instead of signing foreign players like Wesley, Trezeguet, Mbwana Samatta and Marvelous Nakamba, they're preferring to operate in the domestic market. 

Cash's acquisition is fine evidence of that, but so are some of the players the club have been targeting in recent months and weeks.

Callum Wilson and Said Benrahma have been two names on the club's shortlist, but it's another long-term target who could walk through the door first.

Callum Wilson

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have made a major breakthrough in their bid to sign Brentford striker Ollie Watkins.

Villa and Dean Smith are admirers of the player but at £25m, a deal was looking difficult to get over the line.

The fresh report states that Villa are willing to pay over £20m to secure his services but the final fee is likely to be a little short of the price Brentford initially wanted to let him leave. 

It's thought that Villa are ready to offer Watkins a five-year contract that will treble his current salary.

The forward is on just £15k-a-week at Brentford so could earn somewhere in the region of £45k in the Midlands, making him the club's highest earner

Ollie Watkins

GIVEMESPORT'S Matt Dawson says...

Aston Villa have spent a fortune on attacking players in the last 12 months and they have to be careful here.

Wesley signed for £22m last summer but scored just five goals in an incredibly disappointing first season in England.

Thus, securing Watkins for a similar price can be seen as somewhat of a risk given Villa's recent history.

There are plenty of positives, though, not least in the fact that Smith already knows him very well. 

Ollie Watkins

Watkins has played 60 times under the current Villa boss when he was at Brentford, and he already has plenty of experience of the English game.

On top of that, he was in fierce form last season.

For Thomas Frank's side, the 24-year-old set the second tier alight by netting 26 goals in 50 outings. 

Watkins is improving all the time and should bolster their forward line significantly. Is he really worth becoming the club's highest-paid player? Time will tell.