Man Utd Transfer Update: Ruben Amorim Encouraged to Acquire Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa

Manchester United have been told to pursue a summer move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins following their goalscoring woes during the 2024-25 season.

The Red Devils scored just 44 goals in 38 Premier League games throughout the campaign and they are hoping to rectify that issue by signing at least one new forward this summer.

As a result, Ruben Amorim’s side are expected to pursue alternative options and former Man Utd midfielder Paul Ince believes Watkins is the perfect player to lead the club back into the Champions League.

“If you picked your best 11 players from the Premier League, you wouldn’t have one United player in there,” Ince told The Telegraph. “And you probably could have said that in the last six or seven years. How can Liverpool go and sign the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, and Arsenal get Declan Rice?

“Why haven’t United been in the market for them? Are they looking in the right places? I don’t think they are right now, so it’s a big summer for everyone involved at the club, that’s for sure.

“They badly need more firepower and I’m looking at someone like Ollie Watkins – a striker who can actually score goals – as a player United need to be going for.”

Who will Man Utd sign this summer?

Man Utd have already agreed a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha and he is expected to join the club for a fee of €74m very shortly.

The Red Devils are also targeting a move for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, while they are looking to bring a new central midfielder and a new wing-back to Old Trafford before the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

However, Man Utd’s failure to qualify for European football means they will need to offload a number of stars before they are able to sign reinforcements.

Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are all expected to depart on permanent deals, while Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo, Andre Onana and Bruno Fernandes may leave too as Amorim’s side prepare for a major squad overhaul.

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