Aston Villa have firmly told Manchester United that their star striker, Ollie Watkins, “is not for sale at any price,” according to reports from The Telegraph. This comes as Manchester United, under manager Ruben Amorim, have made inquiries about the 29-year-old England international to bolster their attacking options in the ongoing summer transfer window. Watkins, who has a contract with Villa until 2028, is seen as a key figure in Unai Emery’s plans, especially with the club preparing for European competition next season.
Watkins has been a standout performer for Villa, scoring 75 goals and providing 34 assists in 184 Premier League matches since his £33m move from Brentford in 2020. Last season, he contributed 17 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, making him one of the league’s most effective forwards. Despite interest from Manchester United, who have already spent £133.5m on forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, Villa are resolute in keeping Watkins, with a reported valuation of around £60m. Arsenal also had a £60m bid rejected for Watkins in January, highlighting his high demand.
There has been speculation about a potential swap deal involving United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who Villa admire but cannot afford at United’s asking price. Villa’s lack of a recognised backup striker, following Jhon Duran’s £65m move to Al-Nassr, further underscores their determination to retain Watkins. Former Villa player Gabby Agbonlahor questioned why Watkins would move to United, citing Villa’s Europa League participation and United’s lack of European football after their Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
As Villa gear up for their Premier League opener against Newcastle United on August 16, their focus remains on building around Watkins, who is seen as integral to their ambitions. Manchester United, meanwhile, are expected to explore other striker options, such as Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, to fit Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.