Manchester United could make a surprise move for Aston Villa striker Ollie if Joshua Zirkzee heads for the exit door this summer, according to The Sun.
The Red Devils currently have Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee as their specialist senior strikers, but the former has yet to fully recover from a shin injury sustained in May.
The Sun now report that Zirkzee could return to Serie A, with interest from heavyweights Juventus and Roma. The Bianconeri are pushing for his signature in particular.
Should Zirkzee return to Italy, United are ‘expected’ to make a formal approach for Watkins, who could be prised away for £40 million due to Villa’s tight financial situation.
United are not alone in the race, with Arsenal also keeping tabs on the England international. The Premier League holders consider him a possible replacement for Gabriel Jesus.
Watkins to Man Utd remains an outside possibility
Zirkzee scored an outrageous solo goal in the 5-0 friendly win over Rosenborg yesterday, but questions continue to surround his future at the club this summer.
The Dutchman has netted only five goals from 56 Premier League appearances, compared to Sesko, who managed 11 in his debut campaign (2025/26) despite a rough start.
Zirkzee has shown glimpses of his potential from his earlier days, but the inconsistency and inability to adapt to the pace of the league have been a cause for concern.
The 25-year-old has given the green light to join Juventus, and the Bianconeri are reportedly planning to propose a loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer.
If a deal materialises, United may want a tried-and-tested competitor for Sesko, and there are not many better than Watkins, who is a proven Premier League striker.
The Englishman netted 21 goals across all competitions for Villa last term, with 16 of those in the league. He would provide a good goalscoring presence for United.
The Red Devils may need to make a quick decision over whether to keep or sell Zirkzee, given they could miss out on Watkins with Arsenal eyeing him to replace Jesus.
Villa are exploring a record deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, which could speed up Watkins’ exit.
Watkins could be tempted to move to United over Arsenal, given he faces more competition with Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz already playing upfront for the Gunners.
Villa, on their part, may want a bidding tussle between the clubs to raise the final fee for Watkins.
Stats from Transfermarkt