Manchester United are in search of a number nine this summer and it seems as though they are keeping an eye on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
The Athletic report that Manchester United are watching Aston Villa’s goal-getter, with Erik ten Hag keen to bring in the likes of Tottenham hitman Harry Kane or Atalanta star, Rasmus Højlund, but they are proving to be too expensive.
Villa fans shouldn’t fret too much because it has also been claimed that the club are in talks over a new deal with Watkins, who netted a career-best 15 Premier League goals during the recently-concluded season.
If we put aside Steven Gerrard’s spell at the club, which saw Watkins only score once under his stewardship this term before his sacking, the 27-year-old has taken his game to serious heights in recent months.
That has no doubt put Watkins in a bigger spotlight and that’s probably why Erik ten Hag has him on a long-list of strikers he wants at Old Trafford.
If Manchester United get taken over by Qatari ownership, then there’s no way they knock on Villa’s door because Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be getting the loudest of bangs and so will probably PSG for a certain French forward.
Watkins thriving under Emery
When it comes to Watkins finishing, he hasn’t changed a great deal and he does, at times, still need a few chances before putting the ball into the back of the net.
But what has vastly improved since the world-class Unai Emery replaced the over-hyped and bland Steven Gerrard is the way, not just Watkins, but the rest of his teammates think about the game.
Emery has made life simpler for them and their star man up top isn’t wasting his energy out wide, but remaining patient through the middle, ready to pounce in those goalscoring positions.
That’s why he went on a madness in front of the goal following Emery’s arrival and the next aim will be to hit 20+ Premier League goals.
There is this Man United rumour in the background, but if they come knocking, Villa will just put an inflated price on the player, overprice him and they will just walk away because he’s not exactly first, second, third or even fourth choice.
Either way, after Villa’s 2022/23 Premier League season was heading towards disaster under Gerrard, including Watkins being off-colour, it’s great to see months later that he is being appreciated in such a manner.
