‘Held fresh talks’: Man Utd already eyeing up £60m transfer target after Mbeumo | OneFootball

Manchester United are sizing up a potential approach for Ollie Watkins amidst INEOS’ desperate quest to sanction a centre-forward’s arrival.

As far as prolific strikers go, the Aston Villa talisman certainly fits into that bracket, and the fact he’s a ready-made, Premier League-proven frontman means he can seamlessly slot into Ruben Amorim’s starting XI next season.

United’s interest in Ollie Watkins: The state of play

Watkins has consistently been one of the division’s standout performers. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Ben Jacobs has today revealed that the Red Devils have ‘held fresh talks’ over a move for the 18-capped England star.

The only factor preventing them from materialising their interest is that Villa, currently, are demanding £60 million to let go of their first-choice No.9. In the event they drop their price in the latter stages of the window, United could well test their resolve.

It’s thought the Midlands outfit are under increasing pressure to sanction outgoings in order to create more breathing space around the PSR restrictions, and Watkins is undoubtedly one of their most valuable and profitable assets.

Additionally, Villa would be more open to selling the 29-year-old if they had a replacement lined up, with Jacobs adding that Nicolas Jackson is one player ‘appreciated’ by the key decision-makers at Villa Park.

How has Watkins fared in recent years?

In regards to Watkins’ numbers, he boasts a hugely impressive 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 matches in the five years he’s spent with Villa; 75 of those goals and 36 assists have come in the Premier League alone, where he’s racked up 184 appearances in claret and blue.

His most prolific top-flight campaign came in 2023/2024, during which he found the back of the net 19 times and created a further 15 goals to play an integral role in Villa securing Champions League qualification for the first-ever time.

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