Man Utd discussing bid to sign “one of Europe’s best CFs”

Manchester United failed to deliver last season, but INEOS and Ruben Amorim are doing all the right things this summer as they disassemble and rebuild a struggling squad.

The anticipated exodus has not been so much a flow of exits as a trickle, however. But Marcus Rashford is set to sign for Barcelona and Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho are all anticipated to complete moves away in the coming weeks too.

With Bryan Mbeumo finally set to sign for the Old Trafford side in a £71m total package, fans can start to get excited by a new-look frontline that already contains Matheus Cunha, who left Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign for the Red Devils earlier this summer.

However, there’s something missing, and no mistake. It’s the front of the ship: Man United need a striker.

Man Utd’s search for a striker

Man United wanted Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres earlier in the transfer window, but the pursuit of both came to nought. Such is the market, especially when you have no European football to offer.

However, the Red Devils attracted both Cunha and Mbeumo despite tempting offers elsewhere, and they have now compiled a new shortlist, with Benjamin Sesko and Nicolas Jackson both mooted.

However, Amorim might be convinced to target instead Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who, at 29, is older but also more experienced and accomplished in the English game. It’s alleged by reported Ben Jacobs that United are discussing a potential move for the forward.

Arsenal have also shown a vested interest in the Three Lions star over the past year, and he is expected to command a price tag of around £60m, although United technical director Jason Wilcox will be sure to try and whittle this down.

Why Man Utd should sign Ollie Watkins

Watkins is established as one of the most reliable goal scorers in the Premier League. In fact, he’s been described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe” by podcaster Rohan Jivan.

Athletic and powerful, Watkins is able to play through the lines and use his sharpness to assist teammates as well as strike on goal himself, creating an overall sense of fluency that could be perfect for a United side welcoming Cunha and Mbeumo to the fold.

But, more to the point, Watkins could be a fantastic deal, one that should be pursued over the likes of Chelsea’s Jackson, who is available this summer but for a lofty price of £70m.

Jackson, 24, is a talented centre-forward. Like Watkins, he’s mobile, ranking across Europe’s top five leagues among the top 17% of strikers for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

However, he’s still a work in progress, having missed 43 big chances across his two seasons in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, but having only scored 24 goals.

Watkins, across that same period, has missed 49 big chances, although he’s scored 35 goals. It’s clear that Man United need instantaneous results next term, and Watkins could be the man to achieve the desired effect.

Jackson, however, is more of a mixed bag, and given that he would cost more than Watkins, one of the Premier League’s leading strikers, INEOS must show off their savvy approach by picking the shrewder option.