Man United Eye Ollie Watkins Amid Conflicting Reports of £90m Attacker Signing
Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make a strong push to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, as reported by Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The Red Devils have long struggled to find consistency in the striker position, despite spending heavily in recent transfer windows.
Their current interest in Watkins comes after failed attempts to land other forward targets, with United now prioritising experience and Premier League-proven ability.
In recent seasons, United have spent over £100 million on centre-forwards, including around £72 million on Rasmus Højlund, who arrived with high expectations.
While the Danish international showed flashes of potential in his debut season, his form dipped significantly last term, leading new manager Rúben Amorim to reportedly consider moving in a new direction by bringing in a more reliable goal-scorer.
Initially, United pursued Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, but the young striker rejected the chance to join Old Trafford, opting instead for a switch to Chelsea.
Another target, Viktor Gyökeres, is believed to favour a move to Arsenal over United, making it more difficult for the Red Devils to secure his services.
As a result, United have turned their attention to Ollie Watkins, who could be available this summer.
Despite being left out of several key matches for Aston Villa late last season, Watkins remains a highly respected striker.
Interestingly, Marcus Rashford, who was loaned to Villa, was preferred in the striker role by Unai Emery during those games, casting further doubt on Watkins’ future at the club.
Arsenal were also linked with Watkins during the January window and continue to show interest, but United are reportedly determined to outbid their North London rivals.
Watkins, 29, fits Amorim’s criteria perfectly – a seasoned Premier League attacker with strong physical attributes and goal-scoring ability.
Last season, he registered 31 goal contributions in 54 matches, underlining his reliability in front of goal.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are thought to be under pressure to sell due to Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
While Transfermarkt values Watkins at around £34 million, Villa may demand a much higher fee due to his contract, which runs for another three years.
Amid all this, some online reports claim Manchester United have already signed a £90 million attacker, with medicals completed and an unveiling scheduled.
However, these claims are not backed by any credible sources, and prominent journalists such as Fabrizio Romano have not confirmed them.
The websites spreading this information, such as Kickoff Trends, are not considered reliable.
For now, the truth is that United remain interested in Ollie Watkins, and while a deal is possible, no official confirmation has been made.
