Ollie Watkins is reportedly open to joining Manchester United if they fail to secure a deal for Benjamin Sesko.
United have submitted an official bid of €85 million (around £73.8m) for Sesko, though RB Leipzig are also weighing a competing proposal from Newcastle. ..Continue Reading
While Sesko hasn’t announced his decision, media reports from Slovenia last Friday suggested the 22-year-old may have chosen to move to Newcastle.
Should Sesko turn down the Old Trafford switch, United have other targets lined up, with Watkins featuring prominently among their fallback options.
United contacted Aston Villa last month regarding Watkins, but the Midlands club made it clear he was not available for transfer.
Villa previously turned down a £60 million offer from Arsenal for Watkins in the final days of the January window.
According to The Sun, Watkins now feels it’s the right moment to leave, and Villa could accept a £50 million bid for their forward, who netted 16 league goals last season.
The report also notes United are monitoring Samu Aghehowa, who bagged 27 goals for Porto last season and nearly signed with Chelsea the year before.
Vangelis Pavlidis, a 26-year-old striker from Benfica with 30 goals in the last campaign, is another name on United’s shortlist.
Juventus have offered Dusan Vlahovic to United, but reports out of Italy say the club has communicated that Sesko remains their top priority.
Manager Ruben Amorim could also turn his attention to Nicolas Jackson, as Chelsea are said to be open to a sale for £80 million.
