Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince believes the Red Devils should consider signing Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins this summer.

Ruben Amorim’s side are in the market for a new No.9 and Ince says the England international’s goal record makes him a standout candidate:

“They badly need more firepower and I’m looking at someone like Ollie Watkins – a striker who can actually score goals – as a player United need to be going for.”

Watkins scored 17 times and provided 14 assists during the 2024/25 campaign. He wasn’t as prolific as the 2023/24 season, but he still produced substantially more goal contributions than the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, in particular.

United need to find an alternative to Delap

The Red Devils were hoping to secure the services of Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, but the 22-year-old is now expected to join Chelsea instead.

Of course, Watkins is a lot older at 29, but he would add more experience in an area where they are seriously lacking. He can also take some of the pressure off Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

Villa are not expected to sell on the cheap

When Arsenal tabled a £40m bid for Watkins during the January transfer window, the Villans rejected the proposal out of hand. It is believed that the Midlands club value the player at £80m. That is significantly more than Delap, who would have cost only £30m due to a release clause in his contract.

Some funds could, of course, be freed up if captain Bruno Fernandes decides to leave Old Trafford for Saudi Arabia. Read more about the Portuguese international’s future here, as Al-Hilal reportedly set a Friday deadline to decide whether he wants to make the switch to the Middle East.

You also find out who AI believes Man United could sign to replace Fernandes if he does move clubs