Ollie Watkins transfer latest: Aston Villa's stance on Man Utd target amid ‘exploring conditions’ claim
Man Utd have been linked with a move for Ollie Watkins in recent weeks
Aston Villa have released a clear message to all clubs interested in Ollie Watkins as they look to squash any speculation around the striker’s future.
England international Watkins has been the subject of rampant speculation linking him with a move away from Aston Villa amid growing concerns about the club’s current PSR situation.
Villa failed to secure Champions League football by the finest of margins after losing to Manchester United on the last day of the season and it’s ironically the Red Devils that are now interested in signing Watkins from Villa this summer, according to a report earlier this summer from The Athletic.
United’s need for a striker has been one of the dominant talking points throughout the window after the club secured the additions of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in the No.10 positions.
As it stands, the club’s first choice striker is currently Rasmus Hoijlund, who was heavily criticised after scoring just four times in the league last term. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee, who struggled with injury towards the end of the campaign, is also an alternative option.
Sky Sports claimed earlier this month that Ruben Amorim’s side had ‘made contact’ with Aston Villa to find out the latest around Watkins and were ‘exploring conditions of the deal’.
Aston Villa make Ollie Watkins stance clear
Birmingham World understands Ollie Watkins is not for sale this summer and remains a huge part of Aston Villa’s plans moving forward into the new season.
A source close to the club also denied any speculation linking the striker with a move to Old Trafford. Watkins is believed to be happy at the club and Unai Emery is determined to keep him as he sees him as a huge part of his plans moving forward.
Why Aston Villa cannot afford to sell Ollie Watkins
When it comes to great strikers of the Premier League era, Ollie Watkins has to rank right up there as one of the best to have represented Aston Villa since the inaugural season of 1992/93.
He’s scored 75 times in 184 Premier League matches for the Villans, putting him ahead of Gabriel Agbonlahor (74), Dwight Yorke (60) and Dion Dublin (48) with a better goals per match ratio than all the other players mentioned.
Watkins has finished as Villa’s top scorer in all five seasons since arriving from Brentford and has the joint highest goal tally of any player in a single season at Villa Park with 19 alongside Benteke in the 2012/13 campaign.
He’s showing no signs of slowing down as he approaches his 30th birthday and is also one of Villa’s most important players in terms of creativity with 34 league assists throughout his time in the club - putting him third in the Premier League era behind only Ashley Young (42) and Gareth Barry (41).