Villa won’t listen to lower offers for England striker
United may switch focus to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United are interested in signing Ollie Watkins but are unwilling to meet Aston Villa’s valuation of the striker. Arsenal made numerous bids for the England international in January but were knocked back as Villa held out for £60m, a fee they would demand for any sale this summer.
Ruben Amorim has been seeking a new striker given the struggles of both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirzkee last season. Another option is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is no longer part of the thinking at Old Trafford.
Aston Villa insist Watkins is not for sale and are in a position of strength as his contract runs until 2028, meaning it would take an extremely high offer for them to consider parting ways. It would also be difficult for the club to find a replacement with the new season a little more than a fortnight away. United value Watkins at between £40m and £45m, which is similar to what Arsenal were offering in January.
