Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to secure strikers before the new season begins. United manager Reuben Amorim is hunting for proven goals to lead the team’s offense, with Aston Villa and England forward Watkins being considered the perfect candidate for the job.
This summer, United implemented a strategy to recruit players with Premier League experience, as demonstrated by the signatures of wolves Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford.
United maintains this approach with Watkins’ bid, but Mirror claims they are reluctant to meet the 29-year-old villa’s £60 million valuation.
The United Committee has optimism that Watkins could agree to a compromise of between £40 million and £45 million with the Villa, paving the way for a deal between the two clubs.
Watkins scored 17 goals last season, 16 of which were in the Premier League. Amorim is quickly entering the United lineup and is looking for a striker who can consistently find the back of the net.
In addition to Watkins, United are looking at RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesco, but the Bundesliga club is asking him about £700 million, and Newcastle is leading the race to sign the Slovenian, now 22.
United are considering deals for both Watkins and Sesco, but Nicholas Jackson’s move was rejected due to Chelsea’s hefty £80 million price tag.
Amorim wants to secure new strikers as quickly as possible to adapt and develop relationships with new colleagues, but acknowledges that negotiations can last longer.
To fund striker moves, United generates revenue from player sales, with dual sales from Alejandro Garnacho and Antony (both omitted from the US Tour squad, enough to fund new advances.”
United are also trying to offload Jadon Sancho and Tyrrell Malacia, who were left behind by Amorim and joined Garnacho and Antony, but Marcus Rashford’s loan transfer to Barcelona will save around £12 million, with the Spaniard covering wages for the entire season.
United’s determination to sign raised questions about the future of the challenging Rasmus Hojlund last season, scoring just 10 goals from 52 appearances in all competitions.
Villa sources claim Watkins is not on the market, but they demanded £60 million from Arsenal in January after John Duran set out to join Saudi Arabia’s professional league club Al Nassr.
