Paul Scholes’ one concern for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins is something that Ruben Amorim cannot overlook amid Manchester United being linked with the player.
Ollie Watkins has been linked with Manchester United recently and the Red Devils have had a past interest in signing the 29-year-old England international.
United are believed to have added Watkins to a list of potential strikers that they could target if Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund leaves Old Trafford this summer.
Watkins is under contract with Villa until 2028 and the Premier League club are reportedly holding out for a transfer price tag of £60m for the Three Lions star.
The Villa ace has been with his current Premier League side since 2020 after he was signed from Brentford in a club-record deal at the time.
Villa agreed an initial £28m fee to sign United-linked Watkins in the first place, with add-ons that would take the deal with Brentford to £33m.
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Former Manchester United player and TNT Sports pundit Paul Scholes is pitchside ahead of the 2025 UEFA Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the Estadio de San Mames.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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What Paul Scholes said about Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins includes both pros and cons for Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim
Ollie Watkins has featured 223 times for Aston Villa and the Three Lions forward has netted 87 times and registered 42 assists for the Premier League club.
Paul Scholes had his say on the Villa attacker after he watched him in action in a 0-0 Premier League draw against Leeds United at Elland Road in October 2022.
Watkins played the full 90 minutes of the match and the former Brentford player was wasteful with his chances, failing to make the crucial breakthrough for Villa.
According to Birmingham Live at the time, Watkins had six shots in the match from inside the box and the United-linked striker could not make a meaningful impact.
Speaking alongside former United teammate Owen Hargreaves, Scholes told Premier League Productions (via HITC): “There’s not much a coach can do.
“Once you are in that situation, one-v-one, I think for Watkins it’s not clear. It’s not clear in his mind what he is going to do or how he’s going to do it.
“For all the qualities that he has, I think he leads the line brilliantly and he is a real handful, but he should be a goalscorer and he isn’t a goalscorer.
“I don’t think he will get that into his game. You almost need a blend of both Ings and Watkins, it would be perfect.”
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Paul Scholes’ verdict on Ollie Watkins raises big questions for Ruben Amorim over Man Utd’s interest in the Aston Villa forward
Ruben Amorim already faced a difficult start to life at Old Trafford in the 2024-25 campaign with the struggles of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund in the final third.
The 40-year-old United manager cannot take the risk of bringing in a striking option that fails to put up consistent numbers amid United’s financial woes.
Watkins ended the 2024-25 season at Villa Park by netting 17 times and picking up 14 assists in 54 matches across all competitions for the Premier League side.
Hojlund has been linked with Inter Milan and it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old Denmark and United striker will be offloaded in the summer transfer window.
Scholes could see the real potential in Watkins and praised his natural skill in the attacking line, but his ability as a goalscorer is an area of concern for United.
United cannot have a repeat of a Joshua Zirkzee situation by signing a player who is unable to put up consistent numbers, despite his other impressive abilities on the pitch.