Manchester United transfer news as Aston Villa update emerges on Ollie Watkins
Manchester United have been watching Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ahead of a potential new transfer, according to The Athletic.
Despite that, the England international is still in talks to sign a new contract at Villa Park after helping the club qualify for European football.
Erik Ten Hag appears to be covering all bases across Europe though as he looks to sign a new number nine for his second season at Old Trafford.
Watkins appears to be low on the list, thankfully, with his future certainly still at Aston Villa as things stand after one of his best goalscoring seasons since arriving.
Manchester United have also looked at Spurs record-breaker Harry Kane and Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojland, with the latter the likeliest new signing at this stage.
Get it done.
Although unlikely, news such as this makes it even clearer that Aston Villa need to get a move on and get players like Watkins tied down to new and improved contracts.
Manchester United could soon have Qatari money behind them, so that wouldn’t be an issue, but if the striker is tied down for years, Villa do not even need to entertain the idea of an exit.
Watkins was sensational last season, especially under Unai Emery, who will be building his squad around him with more options in the final third too.
With appointments done for Chris Heck and Monchi now after the exit of Christian Purslow, attention can move to transfers and the current playing squad.
Emery will make sure he does not lose any of his important players between now and September, and Watkins is certainly in that category right now.
Hopefully, there is nothing to see here.
In other Aston Villa news, this pundit has been left thrilled after advanced talks started to seal another transfer