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Manchester United have made fresh contact with Aston Villa for Ollie Watkins, talkSPORT understands.
The Red Devils have identified Watkins as a target in their search for a new number nine, but any move is likely to depend on selling players first.
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Villa, who have also shown interest in United’s Alejandro Garnacho, value England international Watkins at £60million.
The 29-year-old scored 50 Premier League goals across the last three seasons and was linked with a shock January move to Arsenal.
Ruben Amorim’s side have already spent over £125m ahead of the new season, but are pushing ahead in their pursuit of a new striker.
Matheus Cunha arrived from Wolves early in the window before Bryan Mbeumo’s long-awaited move was completed on Monday.
United, who ended the 2024/25 campaign in 15th, have had little success in front of goal with Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee up front.
Just four and three league goals were scored by the two, respectively, as the Old Trafford outfit endured a disastrous campaign.
talkSPORT understands Amorim wants to keep Zirkzee and would rather sell Hojlund this summer.
Marcus Rashford has already sealed a season-long loan move to Barcelona with an option to buy.
Garnacho, meanwhile, who has already been told he can leave the club, has previously been backed to join Villa by Gabby Agbonlahor.
The 21-year-old previously fuelled links to Villa after sharing a snap to social media wearing the club’s shirt with Rashford’s name on it.
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“I like him, I think he’s a very good player,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT Breakfast last month.
“Yes, he’s thrown a tantrum on occasions, and I can’t fault him for that. If he’s performed well and then been sidelined in a lackluster Manchester United team, especially when he’s a fan favorite…
“He’s just got to learn, he’s still a kid, 20 years of age, I think he’s got all the attributes.
“Can he work on his crossing? Can he work on his last pass? Sometimes he’ll shoot when you can cross, he’ll cross when he can shoot.
“But that’s a young player, that’s what they do. I’ll have him, get him down now!”
Garnacho registered 11 goals and 10 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions last season, with only Bruno Fernandes contributing more.
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Ollie Watkins record in the Premier League
2020/21:
- Appearances – 37
- Goals – 14
- Assists – 5
2021/22:
- Appearances – 35
- Goals – 11
- Assists – 2
2022/23:
- Appearances – 37
- Goals – 15
- Assists – 6
2023/24:
- Appearances – 37
- Goals – 19
- Assists – 15
2024/25:
- Appearances – 38
- Goals – 16
- Assists – 8
Total:
- Appearances – 184
- Goals – 75
- Assists – 36
Watkins, meanwhile, has a contract at Villa that runs until 2028 and entered the summer off the back of a 16-goal campaign.
The former Brentford player also recorded eight assists in the Premier League, but saw his playing time decrease after Rashford’s loan move to the club during the latter half of last season.
Watkins has already been told that he is not good enough to fire Arsenal to major honours, according to Simon Jordan.
“I don’t consider him a world-class player. I think he’s a solid player, and he has performed admirably for Aston Villa, who have also been very beneficial for him,” Jordan shared with talkSPORT.
“It was a nice step up for him from Brentford. Everyone did well out of the deal, Brentford got a decent fee for him.”
Asked if Watkins is a better player now than before his move to Villa Park, Jordan replied: “Yeah, because he’s played in the Premier League.
“I don’t know what his goals-to-game ratio is but ultimately he’s achieved a meaningful status for Aston Villa to be able to be their greatest Premier League goalscorer.
“Does he take Arsenal somewhere that they’ve not been and give them an outcome that they are constantly saying they haven’t had? I don’t think he does.”
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