According to a report from The Athletic, Manchester United have held preliminary talks with Aston Villa as they look to sign their attacking mainstay, Ollie Watkins. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a more reliable striker this summer and could go hard for the English international if Rasmus Hojlund leaves the club.
Watkins hasn’t looked back since joining Aston Villa from Brentford back in 2020. He has established himself as a key figure in the team and has been one of the most consistent goal-scorers in the Premier League. He has reached double figures in each of the last four seasons.
He contributed towards 24 goals in his 38 league outings last season and was only behind Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland, among strikers. The 29-year-old’s consistent performances have put him on Manchester United’s radar, who are looking for a new number nine.
While his contract at Villa runs until 2028 and he is a key figure in Unai Emery’s team, they could still sanction his departure for the right price as they look to balance their books and avoid potential issues on Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
Arsenal were interested in his signature during the winter window. Villa slapped a £60 million price tag on him back then, and they are still looking for something similar. While it is a massive investment for a 29-year-old, United certainly are interested in having him on their squad.
Of late, they have preferred signing young stars, but they need a proven goal scorer, and Watkins could be the perfect fit for them. United chiefs have been in contact with their Villa counterparts, via intermediaries, as they look to gather information about a potential deal.
At this point, United have only had preliminary talks as all their focus is on completing the signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Once they get that deal over the line, they will focus on offloading players who are surplus to requirements.
They need to raise funds before they can make any further moves in the window. Meanwhile, pushing for Watkins’ signature might depend on Rasmus Hojlund’s future. If the former Atalanta striker secures a return to Italy, they could step up their pursuit of the English international. If not, a deal will entirely depend on how much money United can raise by selling other players.
