Having endured the worst season in the club’s modern history, Ruben Amorim is aiming to overhaul his squad, and Manchester United are in the market for a new striker this summer.
The Red Devils finished a lowly 15th place in the Premier League alongside the heartbreak of a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in May, resulting in them missing out on a lucrative European spot for the first time in over a decade.
In response, Amorim has added three new faces to the roster so far this window, with the arrival of young Paraguayan defender Diego Leon, as well as the exciting additions of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and the protracted transfer of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
Cunha and Mbeumo will both bring much-needed class to the final third, but there is still work to be done if United are to return to the top of the table.
Ollie Watkins would be a brilliant short-term option for Manchester United
The 20-time English champions struggled badly to score goals in the last campaign, and, all too often, found themselves in the ascendancy in games only to fail to hit the back of the net before being sucker-punched at the other end.
Rasmus Hojlund suffered a crisis of confidence, while Joshua Zirkzee did his best work outside the 18-yard box, so a regular goalscorer was severely lacking.
One man who could be perfect for United in this regard is Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins.
At 29 years old, the English international offers a wealth of experience and know-how in the No.9 position, and he could well hit the ground running at Old Trafford if a move were indeed to materialise.
Additionally, Watkins could be available this summer, having fallen out with Villa boss Unai Emery. Furthermore, the Athletic reported in June that the Torquay native is high up on the North West giants’ striker shortlist.
United had shown interest in Amorim’s former Sporting Lisbon hitman, Viktor Gyokeres, but the Swedish attacker has since joined Arsenal in search of Champions League football.
Other names, such as Victor Osimhen, were also considered, but the Nigerian stars’ wage demands scuppered any chance of a move to the Premier League.
Watkins is the standout choice in striker search
Amorim’s side has been linked to an array of names throughout the summer window, with Liam Delap – now of Chelsea – the early frontrunner before he decided to move to Stamford Bridge.
Interest in another Blues player, Nicolas Jackson, has been strongly rumoured in recent weeks; however, his price tag and profligacy in front of goal are significant concerns.
Juventus target man Dusan Vlahovic (25) is touted as an alternative option, but so far, no advances have been made for the Serbian.
Interestingly, Benjamin Sesko of Red Bull Leipzig is a name on everyone’s lips right now, following his proposed move to Arsenal that fell through.
The 22-year-old Slovenian attacker could well be a viable option for United, especially given the club’s past admiration for the player. Still, any deal would prove costly and may be beyond United’s means this summer.
Taking all of that into consideration, I believe Watkins to be the standout candidate available in this window, and, despite turning 30 this December, the former Brentford forward could have a notable impact in Manchester.
United have made initial enquiries with Aston Villa officials to explore the possibility of a deal for the England hotshot.
Remember, Arsenal attempted to sign Watkins in January, only to baulk at the West Midlander’s £60m asking price. However, with the Birmingham-based club enduring some PSR issues, he could now be available for a knock-down fee in the region of £45-50m.
Say what you will, but for me, that price would undoubtedly fall in line with United’s strategy of signing players with Premier League experience in this window.
A deal is there to be done
With the Villans showing tentative interest in out-of-favour United winger Alejandro Garnacho, there could be scope for the Reds to get creative with any potential deal for the striker.
The Old Trafford outfit has been missing an experienced, consistent frontman since Robin van Persie led the line, and Watkins is a Premier League-proven No.9, with 75 goals in 185 league appearances during his time at Villa Park.
Additionally, only Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland are among the out-and-out strikers to have outdone his total of 24 goal contributions during the 2024-25 domestic campaign.
Watkins is a specialist at getting in behind opposition defences, as well as being a deadly finisher off both feet, whilst also providing a serious aerial threat.
The former Exeter man has evolved into an excellent all-round centre-forward under the guidance of Emery, and he would finally give United that clinical edge that they have been lacking in recent times.
Of course, given his age, this is likely a short-term solution; however, like Van Persie before him, it could prove to be a potent tonic from the get-go.
Any deal will hinge on the future of Rasmus Hojlund, which is still unresolved. The Denmark star ideally wants to stay at the club and fight for his place, but there is still plenty of interest from Serie A sides, so things remain very much up in the air.
Let’s see how this situation plays out.
Would you like to see Ollie Watkins in a Manchester United shirt next season? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by Gareth Evans/News Images via depositphotos.com
Recent Posts
- The forgotten slow start to a glorious Manchester United campaign
- Manchester United officials retain confidence in Project 150 strategy
- Manchester United Supporters’ Club retain desire for change of ownership
