Manchester United plans to overhaul its attacking line by sending out Marcus Rashford (28) and signing Ollie Watkins (30, from Aston Villa).
The British 'Daily Star' reported on the 20th (Korean time) that "Manchester United is pursuing a swap deal involving Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins."
According to the report, Rashford, who recently left the team due to a dispute with manager Ruben Amorim, is currently loaned to Aston Villa until the end of the season.
Manchester United is planning to completely release Rashford this summer, with Villa rumored to have requested a transfer fee of about 40 million pounds (approximately 75.7 billion won).
The Daily Star noted that "after moving to Villa, Rashford recorded 1 goal and 5 assists, showing impressive performance, and started against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League quarterfinals, pushing Ollie Watkins to the bench. Although Villa won that match 3-2, they were eliminated with an aggregate score of 4-5 across the two legs."
Given that Rashford's form is recovering, Manchester United is seizing this opportunity to sign Ollie Watkins.
Watkins is a poacher-type forward who exploits defensive gaps with explosive speed and can score from various angles. He makes significant contributions to the team with his vigorous activity level and pressing, as well as his flexible movements between the flanks and the Chonbang, but his inconsistency in goal-scoring ability remains a downside. He also tends to get caught in the offside trap frequently. However, since the start of the 2023-2024 season, he has significantly improved both his post play and finishing ability, addressing many of his weaknesses.
This season, Watkins has recorded 15 goals in 47 matches across all competitions, while he scored 27 goals in 53 matches last season. He has not shown the same level of impact this season and has been challenged for his starting position since Rashford's arrival. As a result, there are suggestions that Watkins might seek a new challenge.
Watkins was a transfer target for Arsenal last year, but Villa rejected it at that time. However, this summer, if the player expresses a clear willingness to transfer, the situation could change. The Daily Star explained that "Manchester United is prepared to attempt the signing by offering substantial cash in addition to Rashford."
Watkins has recorded 85 goals in 216 matches since transferring to Villa from Brentford in 2020. At the time of his transfer, he signed a contract for a club-record transfer fee of 33 million pounds (approximately 62.5 billion won) under manager Dean Smith and has been active at Villa Park for five years.
The media added, "Manchester United envisions turning around its disappointing season through reconstruction of the attacking line this summer, and England national team striker Watkins appears to be at the center of this plan."
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