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Credit: Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Oliver Walton

Fri 1 August 2025 9:00, UK

Matty Cash has shared a message linking up with Aston Villa teammate Ollie Watkins as speculation around his potential exit to Man United continues to swirl.

Watkins netted double figures in league goals for the fifth successive season in 2024/25, further cementing his place as one of English football’s best strikers right now.

His impressive form at Aston Villa over the last few years has led to rumours about a potential exit this summer, and Football Insider revealed in May that Arsenal were planning to reignite their interest in Watkins after the Villans rejected a £50million offer from the Gunners for him in the January window.

Arsenal recently signed Viktor Gyokeres so look unlikely to return to the table, but Man United have since been linked with a move for Watkins as Ruben Amorim aims to overhaul his attacking options, with Benjamin Sesko also a target for the Old Trafford club.

Football finance expert Stefan Borson recently revealed to Football Insider that Watkins’ arrival could cost Man United around £100m due to his likely wage demands, and while they remain keen on a move, they are unwilling to meet Villa’s £60m valuation of the 29-year-old right now [The Guardian].



Watkins bagged 17 goals in all competitions last season (Credit Imago)

Watkins remains a Villa player for now, and he has joined his Lions teammates on their pre-season tour of the USA, which has so far seen Unai Emery’s side take on Eintracht Frankfurt and St.

Louis City.

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Their clash against the latter on Thursday (31 July) saw Watkins score his second goal in as many games as he met Cash’s fine cross with an unstoppable header to put his side 2-0 up in the 56th minute against their American opponents.

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Villa uploaded a video of the goal with a caption of: “You don’t stop those headers,” and Cash shared their post to his Instagram story and tagged his teammate Watkins in while adding an ‘A’ emoji to mark his assist and a handshake emoji to represent their mutual respect for each other’s talents.

Football Insider verdict

Watkins’ talents have arguably been overlooked in the last few years, with his quick movement and finishing ability akin to that of some of the world’s best centre-forwards.

It was him who sent England to the 2024 European Championships final last year with a winner against the Netherlands, while his lethal touch in front of goal is not his only standout attribute, after he won the 2023/24 Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for an impressive 15 assists that year.

AppearancesGoalsAssists2238742Watkins’ Villa career stats

Football Insider recently revealed that Villa need to raise around £100m in player sales soon to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and so Man United need to jump at the opportunity to sign a striker of Watkins’ calibre while his Second City exit is on the cards.

The Red Devils have moved to bring in Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo up to now, so signing Watkins would likely complete Amorim’s desired overhaul of his attacking options.

His arrival at United would represent a clear upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund, who has been mooted to leave the Red Devils, and would give the club a huge boost next season as they look to return to competing at the right end of the top-flight.

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