Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is very open to joining Manchester United this summer, according to journalist and transfer insider Ben Jacobs.
The Red Devils want the England international as they look to further bolster their attack after signing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and the 29-year-old features prominently on their transfer wishlist.
However, while Villa want £60 million to sell Watkins, Jacobs claims an offer in the excess of £50m could get a deal done should the player push for an exit.
He has been involved in 111 Premier League goals (75 goals and 36 assists) in 184 appearances and would be perfect for the Red Devils given his consistency in front of goal over the last five seasons.
Watkins has been a regular source of goals for Villa, and having such a number 9 leading their attack would be huge for Man United.
Their lack of European football next season did not deter the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha from joining, and the Villa hitman is ready to forgo Europa League football to play for the Old Trafford club next season.
Head coach Ruben Amorim is desperate to hit the ground running in his first full season in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, and signing Watkins appeals to him despite his age.
The Villa star does not have plenty of years left in his legs at the top level, and he would most likely maintain his form for at most three or four more seasons.
However, he will provide the goods despite being a short-term solution, which could be a perfect option as Man United need an immediate fix right now as they look to get back to their rightful place at the top domestically and on the continent.
Having Watkins join their attack will make the Red Devils a force to be reckoned with again after they acquired the services of the aforementioned attacking duo, and the fans will be praying the move happens as the summer transfer window approaches its final four weeks.
