Manchester United will reportedly look to sign 28-year-old English striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by talkSPORT, Ollie Watkins is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are scouring the market for a striker heading into the summer transfer window. And they want to sign the 28-year-old from Aston Villa, although a deal will be difficult to pull off.
The rise and rise of Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins has been exceptional since joining Aston Villa from Brentford in September 2020. The English international took some time to get going but has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League in the last 12 months. In addition, he has risen in stature on the international stage.
The 28-year-old, a mainstay in the final third for Aston Villa, has amassed 27 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions thus far this term. Watkins has been instrumental in Aston Villa qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, he is on the verge of breaking Christian Benteke’s record of 19 strikes in a Premier League season, having equalled it a few weeks ago.
In addition, the player’s market value has soared to €65 million in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, Watkins’s progress at Aston Villa has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Recent reports have heavily linked the Englishman with Arsenal, with Manchester United now joining the race to sign him.
Manchester United move on the horizon?
Manchester United’s interest in Ollie Watkins is understandable. The Red Devils are scouring the market for a striker heading into the summer transfer window. While Rasmus Hojlund has been decent in his debut season with Manchester United, the Premier League heavyweights need another option, considering the Danish international is still raw and rough around the edges.
So, several candidates, including Harry Kane, have emerged on Manchester United’s radar, with Watkins also being a viable target. However, signing the 28-year-old from Aston Villa will likely be a tall order for the Red Devils.
Firstly, the Villans are notorious negotiators and will likely put a high price tag on the English international to ward off his suitors. In addition, Manchester United cannot offer UEFA Champions League football to Watkins. So, a summer deal will unlikely see the light of day.
