Ollie Watkins to Man United transfer latest as 'enquiries' made and Rasmus Hojlund impact

Ollie Watkins to Man United transfer latest as 'enquiries' made and Rasmus Hojlund impact

Latest Manchester United transfer news with an update on Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins has been linked with a move to Manchester United (Image: Getty Images )

Ollie Watkins has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United. Ruben Amorim's side are in the market for a new No.9 and the Aston Villa forward is among those on the club's shortlist.

Watkins, 29, signed for Villa in a £33million deal from Brentford in September 2020. Since then, he has established himself as one of the top attackers in English football, scoring 87 goals and adding 42 assists in 223 matches.

‌

However, Watkins could leave Villa in the summer transfer window. He was reportedly left frustrated after Marcus Rashford nudged him down the pecking order and was second-choice for some important matches in April, including the two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, which has increased speculation about a possible exit.

‌

Turning 30 in December, Watkins might be a little bit older than some of the other names mentioned for the striker position, including Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, but he is a proven Premier League goalscorer and that could put him in his favour. Watkins, who is valued at around £60m, has three years left on his contract at Villa Park.

Here, Manchester Evening News has taken a look at the latest surrounding Watkins' future

'Enquiries'

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Saturday that United may have held some 'enquiries' with the player's camp, though was unsure whether that has gone straight to Villa.

Article continues below

Ornstein said on The Athletic's YouTube channel: "Ollie Watkins, as reported by our colleague Laurie Whitwell, is among those on Manchester United's recruitment list.

"I'd be surprised if he wasn't on the recruitment list of top clubs. He's such a good striker and a good lad, and they've maybe held some enquiries with his camp. I'm not sure if that's gone to Villa directly.

"From my conversations with Villa, they see themselves as having no intention to part with Ollie Watkins. They want him to continue with him up front for them."

‌

Hojlund impact

The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell reported last week that any move for Watkins is based on Rasmus Hojlund's future, with Inter Milan thought to be exploring the possibility of a permanent move for the ex-Atalanta man.

"I do think it is linked to Rasmus Hojlund’s future [Ollie Watkins links] if he goes," Whitwell said. "I'm speaking to people, and that’s perhaps more likely than not at this stage. Even a sale is more likely than a loan. We’ll see how it develops, but Inter are there firmly.

"If he goes, I can’t see how United can’t replace him. They would need an option and Ollie Watkins to my knowledge is one of those options."

‌

---

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

Article continues below

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

Click here to read article