Roy Keane’s thoughts on Ollie Watkins are clear as Manchester United enquire about both the Aston Villa star and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško.
With only a month left of the summer transfer window, time is running out for Manchester United to address their dilemma at the top end of the pitch.
Ruben Amorim’s side has already acquired Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to operate as the left and right tens, but they are still looking for someone to spearhead the attack as the final piece of the attacking puzzle.
United’s options regarding a new striker have been whittled down as the weeks have passed, and they are now left with only a few forwards to choose between.
One of these options is Ollie Watkins, who has been described as a possible transfer option, although reports suggest the club are favouring a move for Benjamin Šeško.
Keane’s thoughts on Watkins
In 2024, United legend Roy Keane spoke about Watkins, explaining that he feels the England international deserves to be playing for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
“He could play for one of the top teams, couldn’t he? Villa are a top team, but you’re talking about bigger clubs in Manchester United, Liverpool, [and] Manchester City,” the former midfielder said on Sky Sports.
“That’s a compliment to him, not that he has to leave Villa. But he’s capable of doing it. The kid is so sharp; he has a great shape to him. His movement is as good as any striker in the Premier League. He’s having an amazing season.”
Last season, Watkins made 54 appearances for Unai Emery’s Villains, scoring 17 goals and providing a fantastic 14 assists, which helped his side secure Europa League qualification. This followed a 2023/24 campaign where he registered 27 goals and 15 assists in 53 fixtures.
These figures are incredibly impressive, especially when compared to Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund’s combined 17 goals and five assists last campaign.
United’s striker conundrum
It has been reported by The Athletic that Villa have remained firm that Watkins is not for sale, and that it would take a fee of around £60 million for offers to be considered.
Despite this price tag, it’s claimed that United are hopeful that they could reach a deal between £40-45 million if they were to pursue the England striker.
Watkins isn’t the only striker being assessed by United at the moment, with RB Leipzig’s Sesko also being monitored.
It has been reported that Šeško is the club’s current preferred option, as although he would have a steeper fee, the payment terms would be more favourable, and Leipzig have shown themselves to be more willing negotiators.
It will be interesting to see whether United makes a move for either Watkins or Sesko, especially since the latter is also being courted by Newcastle.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.