Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has criticised the club for their failure to sign Ollie Watkins this summer.
Ollie Watkins’s summer move to Al-Hilal exposed Manchester United’s recruitment strategy, leaving Michael Carrick short of a natural striker alternative. Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen believes the club should have signed another striker and has suggested, exclusively to TEAMtalk, that Watkins could have been the ideal option.
United invested heavily in midfield during the transfer window, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a combined £155 million. However, their focus on strengthening the engine room meant other areas of Carrick’s squad were left short, including the centre-forward position.
Manchester United needed another striker
Speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, Meulensteen admitted United do not have enough natural options up front and believes they needed a striker who could offer something different from Benjamin Sesko.
“I do think United are a bit short upfront. Benjamin Sesko is still young and improving – he showed his worth again coming off the bench to score that important goal against Everton and again in midweek against Sabah.
“And they have other players who can operate up top, like Matheus Cunha or Bryan Mbeumo, but they aren’t out-and-out centre forwards. I would have liked to see them bring in another striker who offers something completely different to Sesko, giving Carrick a different option to play with up front.”
Sesko was United’s major attacking addition in 2025, but the Slovenian struggled to adjust to life at Old Trafford. However, the arrival of Carrick on the bench helped him, and he started delivering off the bench in the second half of the season.
While United have full faith in Sesko, there was a need for another experienced campaigner who could support as well as compete with him. Meulensteen believes Watkins could have provided the competition and alternative profile United currently lack.
Missing out on Ollie Watkins might have been a mistake
The England international left Aston Villa for Al-Hilal in a £51 million deal this summer after establishing himself as a proven Premier League goalscorer.
“Could Ollie Watkins have been that player? Possibly, yes. You’re talking about a proven striker who knows how to score goals and understands the Premier League.
“He would have offered something that helped Manchester United. But when clubs from Saudi Arabia come calling with that kind of money, it’s very difficult to hold onto a player, and it’s very difficult for the player to say no.”
Watkins left the Premier League with an impressive record of 91 goals and 39 assists in 221 appearances. He had 26 goal contributions last season, before joining Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old has already made an impressive start to life in the Saudi Pro League, registering three goals and two assists in his opening four matches.
His numbers give a decent idea of what the Red Devils would have got had they managed to strike a deal with Aston Villa. United’s decision to prioritise midfield was understandable following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s ACL injury at the World Cup. However, Meulensteen’s criticism highlights how the club’s recruitment strategy left Carrick without a natural alternative to Sesko.
For United, Watkins is now unavailable, but the underlying issue remains. If Sesko struggles with fitness or form, Carrick has precious few natural alternatives, a glaring oversight given the club’s £155 million midfield investment.
