Manchester United’s Pursuit of Ollie Watkins
In the ongoing pursuit of a new striker, Manchester United has identified Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa as a potential target, particularly if Rasmus Hojlund were to depart from the club. Initial communications have taken place between United’s management and their Aston Villa counterparts, facilitated by intermediary discussions, to assess the feasibility of such a transfer. This comes amid United’s broader review of various forward options.
Previous Transfer Talks and Current Priorities
Last season, talks were held between United and Aston Villa regarding Marcus Rashford, sparking thoughts of including Watkins in a potential transfer move. However, despite a substantial £40 million option for Villa to acquire Rashford, the prospect faded as Rashford expressed a strong wish to join Barcelona. Currently, United’s priority is finalizing a deal with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo while also planning for necessary player sales to generate funds for new acquisitions.
At this moment, discussions around Watkins remain exploratory, with Villa considering the market value of their roster, including Emiliano Martinez, while significant transfers are expected to unveil as the transfer window progresses.
Watkins’ Performance and Market Value
Watkins has demonstrated commendable performance levels at Villa, netting 75 goals over 184 matches in the Premier League and achieving double-digit scoring in each of his last five seasons. Last season, he contributed a total of 24 goals and assists in the league, ranking third among forwards behind Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland. From United’s perspective, there is a belief that Watkins could offer much-needed reliability in front of goal, despite his being older than the young talents acquired recently under Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s tenure.
For Aston Villa, selling a player for a considerable fee could aid in complying with Premier League financial sustainability regulations, especially following their agreement to sell the women’s team to bolster their compliance efforts. Previously, Arsenal had also shown interest in Watkins but negotiations fell through due to a discrepancy in valuation. Villa remains steadfast in valuing Watkins at approximately £60 million, supported by his continued strong performance and the remaining three years on his contract. This valuation may pose a barrier for United given Watkins’ perceived depreciation potential in resale.
Future Considerations and Other Interests
Notably, United had earlier considered Watkins as a backup option to Hojlund last summer but ultimately opted for the younger player from Atalanta instead. Meanwhile, Hojlund’s situation remains uncertain, with interest from clubs like Inter Milan, which may lead United to contemplate a sale despite the need to reconcile any loss in book value.
Amid these developments, coach Ruben Amorim appears keen on reuniting with Viktor Gyokeres, although interest from Arsenal complicates that pursuit. Additionally, financial constraints make transfers for players like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike difficult. Meanwhile, conversations on players like Christopher Nkunku are ongoing between Chelsea and United.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Watkins’ age may raise questions, pursuing him aligns with United’s strategy during this transfer window, as they seek to attract proven Premier League talent capable of swiftly adapting to their squad. If acquired, Watkins could provide a pragmatic solution to United’s goal-scoring challenges, having honed his finishing skills under Unai Emery at Villa. His potential arrival could enhance the effectiveness of other players like Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha by exploiting defensive gaps created by his runs.
