Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim during a press conference
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be hoping to have a new striker before the 2025/26 season starts
Manchester have been backed to complete two major transfers involving Aston Villa players this summer.
The Reds are in desperate need of a new striker this summer after an abysmal goalscoring record in 2024/25. United's 44 goals in the Premier League was their lowest in a generation, with striker among several attackers who failed to deliver.
, and Hugo Ekitike have been among the many strikers linked with a move to M16 as Ruben Amorim desperately seeks a solution to his goalscoring crisis. Any one of those players would be an upgrade on United's current options up-front.
But with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) restrictions in place, the Reds may need to be creative with their search for a new No.9 this summer. And ex-Reds star Paul Ince has recently told the Manchester Evening News
"Ollie Watkins, without a doubt," he said when asked which striker he would like United to try and sign. "He is proven, he scores goals, he has got all the attributes, he is quick, he can run in behind and he can attain the ball.
"He has got all of the attributes that you want to go to . I am not saying that is going to be the case, but if you look at last season when [Marcus] Rashford went to Villa Park, Watkins got his nose put of joint and didn't really play much.
"There might be something where if he was available, I'd be looking at him for sure. I think Gyokeres has done well in Portugal, and you have got to remember that he scored a lot of goals at Coventry before he went there."
If United do look at Watkins, then a swap deal involving Hojlund could suit all parties. Both Villa and the Reds have needed to be mindful of their spending in recent times, so a swap could work.
Former Villans striker Stan Collymore has suggested that his old side could turn to Hojlund. He also shared his belief that a move to Birmingham would have benefited the Dane before he arrived at Old Trafford in 2023.
If both transfers were to be completed, it would be a dream scenario for Amorim and United.
"If you’re looking at a deal whereby you’re looking at the transfer fee plus wages. Aston Villa could afford the transfer fee and wages. I mean there’s talk of £43m for Hojlund, but I don’t think anybody’s paying that," he told .
"Man United will be looking to recoup money from him, and that could involve loaning him back to several clubs in Italy. But by doing this, he would never be settled.
"He’s still a very young man. I really like him as a striker, I think he’s got the basic attributes. But he went to Manchester United and it’s basically completely shattered his confidence.
"Rasmus Hojlund, as a young man in his early 20s, is aching for somebody to put their arm around him. This is the bit of the development process that you should have had. He should have gone to someone like Aston Villa first, scored you 25 goals and then gone to Manchester United 2/3 years down the line.
"In Aston Villa’s financial position, £25m plus add-ons and a wage that would not be anywhere near breaking their high wage turnover would be favourable. I think that if Ollie Watkins were to go, they could do a lot worse than have a look at Rasmus Hojlund."
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