Manchester United's interest in Ollie Watkins never materialised into anything formal this summer, which must have been a shame for Kobbie Mainoo given his relationship with the striker
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins was linked with a move to Manchester United this summer
(Image: Getty Images)
Kobbie Mainoo and Ollie Watkins already share a strong rapport - one that might have deepened at Manchester United had things gone differently this summer. Earlier in the window, United weighed up a move for Watkins before turning instead to Benjamin Sesko, whose £74million switch to Old Trafford was sealed on Saturday.
Supporters are understandably excited to see the Slovenian in action, but his lack of Premier League experience invites caution, with memories of Rasmus Hojlund's steep learning curve still fresh. Watkins may not have been the flashier option for the Red Devils, yet Mainoo's admiration for the England forward suggests he might have welcomed that alternative outcome.
Despite being nearly a decade apart in age, Mainoo and Watkins forged a clear camaraderie during Euro 2024. After Watkins' dramatic last-gasp winner in England's semi-final victory over the Netherlands, Mainoo needed just one word to sum him up on Instagram.
"Clutch," the United midfielder wrote in reply to Watkins' celebratory post. The feeling was mutual.
Earlier in the tournament, Watkins had been asked for his thoughts on Mainoo and didn't hold back. "He doesn't act his age," the Aston Villa striker told ITV. "He's very mature on and off the pitch. Again, unbelievable English talent.
"[He's] got the world at his feet. I can't speak more highly of him. He's athletic and the composure on the ball - to take the ball and receive it in tight areas as a midfielder.
"I think that sets you apart, especially for the way we want to play. He is so comfortable on the ball. You can see why he's so comfortable on the ball."
Watkins and Mainoo during Euro 2024
Watkins and Mainoo grew close during Euro 2024
Such mutual admiration suggests the pair would have had little trouble linking up at club level had Watkins joined United this summer. But any notion of such a partnership will need to be parked for now.
With Sesko's arrival ending United's immediate pursuit of a striker, a move for Watkins is off the table - though it's understood the 29-year-old remains admired at Old Trafford and could yet be targeted in the future.
That said, United will hope it never comes to that. More than £200m has just been poured into a brand new front three, with Sesko joining Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in a sweeping summer rebuild designed to end any need for attacking reinforcements in the near future.
Mbeumo struck 20 Premier League goals for Brentford last season, while Cunha hit 15 for Wolves. Sesko, meanwhile, netted 13 times in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig - three fewer than Watkins managed in the league for Aston Villa.
Kobbie Mainoo after Man Utd v Bournemouth
Kobbie Mainoo will be looking to strike up a similarly-positive relationship with Benjamin Sesko
Still, there is no shortage of optimism at Old Trafford, and beyond, that Sesko could develop into a generation-defining talent. The 22-year-old, once heavily linked with Arsenal, has been compared to both Erling Haaland and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, blending physical attributes with technical ones, with his towering frame, blistering pace, eye-catching ball control and ruthless finishing turning heads across Europe.
For now, it will be Sesko, not Watkins, making runs off Mainoo's passes at Old Trafford. The pair will have to build their own understanding, but given Mainoo's composure in midfield and Sesko's movement in behind, the foundations are there.
Still, the warmth between Mainoo and Watkins at Euro 2024 lingers as a reminder of the partnership that might have been - and one United may yet revisit if circumstances change.
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