Breaking News: Manchester United Set Sights on Ollie Watkins as Striker Hunt Intensifies
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a move to land Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, potentially beating Arsenal to his signature, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The Red Devils have struggled to find consistency in the centre-forward role despite spending over £100 million in recent transfer windows to fix the problem. Rasmus Højlund, who was signed for around £72 million, showed moments of promise in his first season but failed to deliver consistently last term. With his form dipping, new manager Ruben Amorim is now exploring fresh options to bolster United’s attacking threat.
United initially pursued young striker Liam Delap, but he opted to join Chelsea instead. They also explored a move for Viktor Gyökeres, although he reportedly prefers a switch to Arsenal. With both targets slipping away, attention has now shifted to Watkins.
Watkins could be on his way out of Villa Park after being overlooked in key matches towards the end of last season. During that time, Unai Emery even opted to play Marcus Rashford—who was on loan at Villa from United—in the striker position ahead of Watkins. This situation has opened the door for other clubs to make a move.
Arsenal had shown strong interest in Watkins during the January transfer window and are still monitoring his situation, but Amorim now sees the 29-year-old as a viable and proven Premier League option to lead the line at Old Trafford.
Financial concerns at Aston Villa could further facilitate a deal. The club is reportedly under pressure to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and may need to offload players to stay within the regulations. Watkins, valued at around £34 million and under contract for another three years, could command a significant transfer fee.
Watkins has been one of the league’s more consistent forwards, registering 31 goal contributions across 54 games in all competitions last season. With experience and a proven track record at this level, he could provide the reliable goal-scoring threat United have been lacking—if a deal can be reached in the coming weeks.
