Manchester United suffer a setback in their pursuit of Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa has confirmed they are not planning to sell Ollie Watkins this summer, which could be a big setback for Manchester United’s efforts to sign the forward. According to Sebastian Vidal, Manchester United may miss out on their top striker target, as Watkins is unlikely to leave Villa this transfer window. The club in Birmingham has no intention of selling him, which might force United to look for alternatives.

Manchester United are now actively seeking a new striker this summer, with several players linked to the club.

However, they have faced some difficulties in their pursuit of key targets, as players like Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres have opted for other clubs instead of joining United.

Having already signed players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, manager Ruben Amorim is keen to add another striker to the squad.

He also wants to avoid relying too much on Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, especially since Hojlund could be sold if a new centre-forward arrives in the market.

Several names are associated with a potential move to Manchester United, including Ollie Watkins.

Talks have already taken place regarding the transfer of the Aston Villa forward. Other options, like Nicolas Jackson, could be a more appealing choice than Watkins if United had the option. Unai Emery, who previously signed Watkins for £28 million in 2020, might still be interested in him unless a better replacement is found in this market.

Watkins may be open to a move to United, as he might be looking for a fresh challenge after spending several years at Aston Villa.

He was close to leaving in January when Arsenal expressed interest, but a deal could not be completed as his club turned down the offer. This summer, he might be more willing to make a move, and United could be the most appealing option for him in the current transfer market.

Aston Villa have ruled out selling Ollie Watkins this summer, according to journalist Sebastian Vidal on X. In his post, Vidal talked about Manchester United's interest in Idrissa Gueye, a young striker from Metz. He also noted that Aston Villa have closed the door on Watkins' transfer, which is a big disappointment for Manchester United. Watkins, who has scored a lot of goals in the top flight, was seen as a perfect fit for the club. But now, United might need to look for a new striker, possibly someone like Jackson, to improve their attacking options.