Aston Villa poised as Watkins one of two on final Man United transfer shortlist
Ollie Watkins continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United, despite receiving no encouragement from the Villans.
Villa have issued a hands-off warning to United, insisting that Watkins isn’t for sale.
However, new reports suggested that the England striker remains top of the Red Devils’ wanted list.
Manchester United want to buy either Watkins or Sesko
Villa fans have been receiving mixed messages about Watkins’ future at Aston Villa.
It has been reported that he’s unhappy at Villa and Unai Emery has already been seeking replacements. At the same time, Villa have also shown no desire to sell him to Manchester United.
The Red Devils must believe they can get him though.
Laurie Whitwell, who covers Manchester United news for The Athletic, has suggested via X (29 July) that they have narrowed down their search for a striker to two candidates – Watkins or Benjamin Sesko.
Supposedly, United have been in touch with Villa and Sesko’s club RB Leipzig to figure out suitability and a potential transfer fee.
Sesko has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-demand young strikers, following a good season at Leipzig.
However, Watkins is likely to remain the main target, as he’s proven in the Premier League and United need a striker who can hit the ground running.
Villa will surely be desperate to keep Watkins at all costs
It hasn’t been a good transfer window for Aston Villa.
The club remains desperate attacking reinforcements after being so reliant on loan signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio at the back end of last season.
| Ollie Watkins Aston Villa statistics | |
| Signed | Seotember 2020 |
| Appearances | 223 |
| Goals | 87 |
They haven’t managed to capture any of the targets yet. It doesn’t appear as if they’ve even got close.
Now, they look in danger of losing their only striker who is proven in the Premier League.
The links to free transfers like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Callum Wilson have underwhelmed fans, but as the season approaches, it gets more likely that Emery will have to resort to a panic-buy like this.
Villa fans might understand the sale of Watkins, if a suitably experienced striker was lined up as a replacement. But there are no signs of progress in that department.
Surely Villa will resist all bids for Watkins until a big-money replacement has been signed? Their fans can only hope.
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