Manchester United’s hunt for a top striker this summer has taken another turn after their €65 million bid for Brentford’s Mbuemo was firmly rejected. According to Fabrizio Romano, United have now turned their attention to Aston Villa’s star forward, Ollie Watkins.
Sources close to the deal say United are unwilling to increase their offer for Mbuemo and see Watkins as a strong alternative who could arrive at a more reasonable price.
Watkins, who was outstanding for Villa last season with his work rate, sharp finishing and link-up play, is viewed by Reuben Amorin’s camp as an ideal fit for United’s attacking rebuild.
While Aston Villa will no doubt be reluctant to lose one of their key players, the Red Devils believe that negotiating for Watkins could prove less complicated than trying to prise Toney away from Brentford — a club known for driving a hard bargain.
With pre-season just around the corner, United will be hoping they can get this new approach over the line quickly to give their manager as many fresh options as possible before the new campaign kicks off.
It’s clear the hunt for a reliable goalscorer continues at Old Trafford — and Ollie Watkins could be the man to lead the line next season in red.
