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Manchester United's pursuit of a new striker continues, and links with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins refuse to go away.

The Red Devils, who have so far dithered in the transfer market, were utterly toothless in attack last season, scoring just 44 goals over the course of the Premier League campaign — only just over half of the amount that Liverpool managed.

In a bid to address the team's attacking problems, Ruben Amorim is targeting proven goalscorers — and not just in the striker position.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were both among the league's top 10 scorers last season; Cunha's arrival was confirmed last month, while United remains the favorite to sign Mbeumo.

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Up front, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund managed just seven Premier League goals between them in 2024-25, which is why United is so desperately searching for a new No.9.

In recent days, free agents like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jamie Vardy have been reported as possible targets, which hasn't exactly gone down well with United fans who were hoping for a more high-profile addition.

United, though, is having to cut its cloth accordingly after missing out on the riches of Champions League soccer, and that means fans of the club must come to terms with the fact that United can't sign the kind of players that it used to.

Watkins, who has tallied double figures for Premier League goals in each of the last five seasons, though, would be a huge upgrade on Hojlund and Zirkzee,



Ollie Watkins is being linked with Manchester United

If United was to sign Watkins, who turns 30 this year, the Old Trafford club would be signing a player that had a huge admirer on former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp

“Ollie is a really, really talented striker," Klopp admitted back in 2021 after Watkins' hat-trick in Villa's stunning 7-2 win against Liverpool during the 2020-21 season.

"Obviously the manager (Dean Smith) knew him from before (from their time together at Brentford) and it was a really good signing

With him, that's not different than it is to others."

As well as United, Newcastle United is also being linked with a move for Watkins, as the Magpies search for a replacement for Callum Wilson, who recently exited the club.


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