Manchester United in fresh triple striker transfer claim as Ollie Watkins ‘worry’ detailed
The latest Man Utd transfer news amid updates on Ollie Watkins, Randal Kolo Muani and Dusan Vlahovic.
Isaac is a senior NCTJ-trained journalist with an MA in News Journalism. He has experience of working for national and regional news organisations including the Express, the Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Echo. He currently covers sport across all regional sites at Reach PLC.
Rio Ferdinand has chatted about rumours linking Ollie Watkins with Man Utd.(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United continue their preparations for the 2025/2026 campaign with a pre-season friendly match vs West Ham on Sunday morning (UK time).
Head coach Ruben Amorim handed debuts to new signings Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon last time out in a 0-0 draw against Leeds United in Stockholm. Bryan Mbeumo has also since joined United’s ranks this summer, with the club confirming his £65million transfer from Brentford earlier in the week.
And now, their pre-season preparations will continue with a tour of the United States. Amorim’s men jetted off to Chicago on Tuesday, where they’ll be based for the majority of their three-match tour.
Below is a look at some of the latest United transfer headlines as well as a view on each one;
Striker transfer claim
ESPN argue that deals have been explored for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic at United this summer.
The report states that sales have been earmarked to be essential for any major signing, however, despite Marcus Rashford’s exit to Barcelona providing some headroom.
Isaac Seelochan from The Manchester Evening News says: “Watkins is the best option of these three, due to his Premier League experience. However, the other two players are likely to be cheaper.
“If so, then United would have a tough decision to make as there isn’t a huge difference between the abilities of Vlahovic and Kolo Muani and what they could offer the club.”
Watkins fear outlined
United great Rio Ferdinand believes that the “only drawback” for United in signing Watkins is that his age would eliminate a decent transfer “sell-on value” in the future. “I think he would be a very, very good addition to the Manchester United squad,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel. “He scored 17 goals last season, 14 assists in 54 appearances.
“He’s 29 – and that’s the only drawback for Manchester United. There’s not going to be any sell-on value, which I understand is an issue, but you’ve got to look at the here and now with Manchester United.”
Isaac Seelochan from The Manchester Evening News says: “United have no European football and are poised for another transition season, so Watkins is the perfect short-term solution for Ruben Amorim. Villa’s strike might not take United to their ultimate aim of a league title or Champions League win, but he’s the perfect stepping stone for where they currently are.”
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.