With the start of the new Premier League season fast approaching, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be busy fine-tuning his squad.
The Portuguese inherited an underperforming side when he took charge of the Red Devils in November last year, but the ex-Sporting CP boss failed to turn his side’s fortunes around.
United ultimately ended up finishing 15th in the Premier League table and therefore missed out on qualification for Europe this season.
So far this summer Matheus Cunha is the only player to arrive at Old Trafford, but it has since emerged that United are interested in an England international.
CaughtOffside claims that the Manchester club are interested in Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins but must sell striker Rasmus Hojlund before they can attempt to sign him.
Watkins is a target for Manchester United (Photo: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy)
Hojlund, 22, joined United from Italian side Atalanta back in 2023 but has since struggled to recreate his best from.
In total the Dane has scored 26 times in 95 games, but the report claims that he could be offloaded in order to free up funds and space in Amorim’s squad.
Watkins, meanwhile, has been in fine form for the Villans over the past few seasons.
The 29-year-old joined Villa from Brentford five years ago and has now scored 87 times in 223 games for the Midlands club across all competitions.
Last term he netted 17 goals and provided 14 assists in 54 matches for Unai Emery’s side.
The report claims that Amorim is keen to add Premier League experience to his squad ahead of the new season, and Watkins has been identified as a prime target to do exactly that.
Watkins – who was the subject of a failed bid from Arsenal in January – is under contract at Villa Park until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.