Ollie Watkins could be open to leaving Aston Villa for Manchester United this summer after admitting he was ‘fuming’ with his recent game time under Unai Emery.
Watkins was on the bench for both legs of Villa’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain but the forward returned to the line-up with a goal and assist against Newcastle on Saturday.
Following his man-of-the-match display versus the Magpies, Watkins revealed he had voiced his frustrations to Emery and reaffirmed his desire to play ‘on the biggest stage’.
“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, so I’m not going to lie – I was fuming I wasn’t playing,” Watkins said. “I let (Emery) know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.
“’It’s something I haven’t experienced before, missing out on the biggest stage. You always want to play, especially in the Champions League. Me and a few others are disappointed we didn’t start the game, but like I said, it’s the manager’s decision.
“The team played really well, but I wanted to be out on the pitch much longer. I wanted to be starting in the important games because I’ve played a big part to get (Villa) to where we are today. Rather than let it hinder you, you have to use that anger as motivation.”
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Why Watkins transfer could be a win-win for all parties
The revelation comes at an intriguing time after FootballTransfers learned that Manchester United have held negotiations with Villa over a summer move for Watkins.
Despite being Villa’s top scorer this season and for the previous four campaigns, Watkins has seen his gametime dramatically decrease after the January arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
The win over Newcastle was just Watkins’ second start in his last seven appearances and Villa’s openness to negotiate with United could indicate that the England international is closer to the exit door than ever, particularly with a permanent swap for Rashford among the options for a deal.
At 29, Villa may feel that Watkins is at his peak value, marking no better time to cash in on their star man despite his importance and output for the club, having seen Rashford also thrive in attack since his arrival.
Villa have recently shown an inclination to make bold transfers to battle PSR and transition to building a younger side capable of regularly competing in the Champions League.
For United, a move would almost certainly hinge on whether Ruben Amorim’s men secure Champions League football next season by winning the Europa League, with a switch to Old Trafford then giving Watkins the perfect opportunity to play at the highest level.
A swap deal involving Rashford would also allow United to avoid using more of their limited transfer resources and give Amorim the experienced and proven goalscorer his side have been crying out for.
What is certain is that Watkins is unsettled by his decline in status and open to any opportunities in order to strengthen his case to be included in England’s World Cup squad next year, suggesting that a move to United could be more feasible than ever this summer.
