Man United eye Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins as striker target

Manchester United have targeted Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins to bolster their attack this summer, aiming to address their lackluster offensive output.

After a disappointing 2024/25 season, where strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund managed just seven Premier League goals combined, United are eager to overhaul their squad.

The Red Devils’ poor performance marked their lowest point in over three decades, as they finished 15th in the league standings last season.

United have included Villa’s Watkins on their shortlist, with manager Ruben Amorim planning to move on Danish striker Højlund to revamp the team’s attacking line for the upcoming season.

According to The Athletic, Watkins is considered a more cost-effective and dependable option compared to other strikers on United’s radar.

Old Trafford officials have initiated discussions with the Villans about a potential transfer for Watkins, who is under contract until 2028 and valued at £60 million.

Ollie Watkins found the net 16 times in the 2024/25 Premier League season(Image:getty Images)

Watkins, a consistent English international striker, has scored 75 goals in 184 Premier League matches.

A potential transfer for the 29-year-old aligns with Amorim’s strategy of signing established Premier League forwards, as seen with the acquisition of Matheus Cunha and the ongoing interest in Bryan Mbeumo.

United aim to offload Højlund this summer, with Inter Milan showing interest, despite the striker’s reported wish to remain at Old Trafford.

Watkins, formerly of Brentford, has consistently reached double-digit goals in each of his Premier League seasons with Aston Villa, scoring 16 times in the 2024/25 campaign despite reduced playing time compared to the prior two seasons.

A potential swap deal involving Watkins and Marcus Rashford was discussed in recent months, but Rashford’s preference to move to Barcelona halted those negotiations.

United are targeting a new striker this summer, but their ability to do so may depend on successfully transferring out players such as Marcus, Højlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and others, including Antony, who is on Real Betis’ radar.

Meanwhile, Watkins has reportedly shown interest in seeking a new challenge following earlier transfer speculation away from Villa. It remains unclear if he would consider a move to Old Trafford, which would mean forgoing European football next season.