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Ollie Watkins has been linked with a move to Manchester United(Image: PA)

Aston Villa may be simply regurgitating a tactic already deployed by Liverpool this summer in insisting that Ollie Watkins is not for sale despite Manchester United's interest.

As a result, United are now said to be pondering the possibility of signing Watkins ahead of the new season.

However, it appears as though United have hit a stumbling block in their ambitions of signing the 29-year-old; the Villans have explained that he isn't for sale.



Villa sources insist that Watkins will stay put this summer, although the club did value him at £60m in January when Arsenal showed their own interest, before backtracking when Jhon Duran left to join Al-Nassr.

Whether Villa are serious in retaining Watkins, or if they are deploying mind-games to drive his price up, is up for debate at present, given that United are said to be unwilling to meet their previous £60m price tag and are looking at a more budget-friendly range of between £40m and £45m.

It wouldn't be the first time that such a tactic has been deployed this summer, with Liverpool stating Luis Diaz would remain at Anfield before changing their tune completely.

Diaz landed in Germany for a medical on Tuesday and is expected to be announced as Bayern's latest signing imminently.

Liverpool said Luis Diaz was not for sale(Image: Getty Images)

With 16 goals and eight assists to his name in the Premier League last season, Villa may be simply playing hard-ball to get a better price for their star striker who has three years remaining on his current deal.

9 on Villa's books at present.

Should Manchester United be unsuccessful in their endeavours to sign Watkins and take Villa's word as gospel, then they're not exactly short in terms of other options.

The Red Devils are thought to be the front-runners in the race to sign RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, despite Newcastle United also showing a heavy interest considering Alexander Isak's wishes to explore a move away from St James' Park.

Benjamin Sesko has been linked with Manchester United and Newcastle(Image: Getty Images)

Leipzig reportedly value the 22-year-old, who scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, at around £60m.
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