Ollie Watkins<\/a> is one of those serious options, with Man Utd stepping up efforts<\/a> to sign him in recent days, followed by Rio Ferdinand giving his stamp of approval<\/a>. <\/p>\n Now, Watkins has spoken out on his future ambitions, and it\u2019s a comment that bodes extremely well for Ruben Amorim<\/a> at Old Trafford<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are a number of reasons why Watkins is quickly emerging as the perfect striker target<\/a> for United, even though Aston Villa will drive a hard bargain.<\/p>\n Watkins\u2019 history with Bryan Mbeumo<\/a> is also a plus point in his kitty, although Jean Philippe-Mateta\u2019s name should be on the list<\/a> as well. <\/p>\n Amidst all the speculation, Watkins has started off his 2025\/26 season in the only way he knows how \u2013 by scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in Aston Villa\u2019s friendly. <\/p>\n Speaking after the game, Watkins talked like a player who knew he held all the cards and was willing to arm-twist Villa into getting what he wanted, either there or somewhere else.<\/p>\n He said: \u201c[Unai Emery is] the manager at the end of the day and you\u2019ve got to respect his decision, but I\u2019m not one of those players that\u2019s happy to sit on the bench. I was fuming, I wasn\u2019t playing, and I let him know that.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s an interesting Man Utd wrinkle to Watkins\u2019 complaints because he had to sit on the bench due to Emery\u2019s preference for Marcus Rashford<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Villa targeting a striker<\/a> again, Watkins\u2019 comments bode extremely well for Amorim and Man Utd because they can promise him something Villa can\u2019t. <\/p>\n Watkins will be the undisputed first-choice at Man Utd<\/p>\n These comments come at an opportune time for Man Utd<\/a>, because it would be naive to assume that Watkins doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s doing with these comments. <\/p>\n He\u2019s aware of United\u2019s interest, and using it to strong-arm Villa into giving him what he wants, and what Man Utd can promise him.<\/p>\n He will be the undisputed first-choice striker at Old Trafford<\/a>, as he\u2019s a vastly superior and more proven option than either Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee. <\/p>\n![\"Ollie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2217473762-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo by Alex Livesey\/Getty ImagesOllie Watkins speaks out on his Aston Villa role<\/p>\n