Ollie Watkins is linked with a summer move away from Aston Villa, with Arsenal, Liverpool Manchester United keen on securing his services.
According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United want to bring in a quality goalscorer at the end of the season. And they have identified Ollie Watkins as a potential target. But they will face competition from Arsenal and Liverpool. However, the Red Devils are the front-runners to sign the English striker.
Watkins has been in splendid form since the arrival of Unai Emery, and he has 15 goals across all competitions. The Red Devils need someone like him to lead the line for the next season. They have been overly dependent on Marcus Rashford this season.
But while the England international has done a splendid job, he is a primarily left-sided forward. So Manchester United must look to let him play in his national role and bring in a new centre forward. Watkins has thus emerged as a viable target for Manchester United.
The English is well-settled in the Premier League, and he could prove to be a quality acquisition. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, and he could settle in quickly and make an immediate impact. Meanwhile, Manchester United have won the League Cup this season, and they are set to return to the UEFA Champions League.
They will be expected to challenge for major trophies next season. And a quality striker could make a big difference for them in the final third. It will be interesting to see if Aston Villa are prepared to cash in on their prized asset this summer.
There have been rumours that Aston Villa could look to tie him down to a new long-term contract. Watkins has been a regular starter under Unai Emery, and he is playing the best football of his career at the West Midlands club. The player might not be keen on a move away from Villa this summer. That said, Manchester United certainly the financial resources to tempt the player with a lucrative offer.
The report also suggests that Manchester United lead the race to sign the English striker. It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks. Villa are pushing for European qualification, and they need to hold on to players like Watkins if they want to challenge for trophies next season.
Also Read: Aston Villa: The Unai Emery gamble is about to reap European rewards
Arsenal need to bring in another quality striker to support Gabriel Jesus in the attack and Watkins could be a superb acquisition for them as well. Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been quite mediocre throughout his debut season. So the Reds have been linked with Watkins as well. It remains to be seen whether they are prepared to bring another striker this Summer.
