Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo has endorsed Manchester United’s move for Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins.
United have placed Watkins, 29, at the highest of their list of targets should they resolve to sign a brand new striker before the summer transfer window shuts.
Ruben Amorim was keen to bring his former Sporting player Viktor Gyokeres to Old Trafford however the Sweden international rejected Manchester United in favour of a £64m move to Arsenal.
Despite that transfer blow, United are still curious about signing a brand new No. 9 following Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles last season.
BBC Sport say Watkins and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are on the forefront of Manchester United’s mind as they consider a move for a Gyokeres alternative.
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Watkins has scored 75 goals in 184 Premier League games for Aston Villa, including 35 over the past two seasons.
The England regular was the topic of a £40m bid from Arsenal in January and Aston Villa are believed to want around £60m to sell him this summer.
Mbeumo played with Watkins while they were each at Brentford and has described United’s transfer goal as a ‘complete striker’.
‘Ollie is a whole striker, he can do a variety of things,’ Mbeumo told Old Trafford legend Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel. ‘He can drop to be available or go in behind.
‘That is actually good for me as a winger because you need to use his pace to slot in there. Plus he can mix as well. It’s really good.’
Mbeumo accomplished a £65m move from Brentford earlier this month, signing a five-year contract on the Theatre of Dreams.
‘You must play on the best stages on this planet. And Old Trafford is considered one of them,’ he said of his move to United, who finished just fifteenth within the Premier League last season.
‘So having the ability to play here every two weeks is just big. Once I spoke properly with the gaffer, he said “we’re individuals who like winning, and we wish to be one of the best team”, and naturally that’s what we are going to attempt to do.
‘We had a really friendly and constructive conversation. He explained his project to me, what he desired to do and I actually clicked on that.
‘I’m someone who likes a challenge. As a forward, you mostly intend to make an imprint in the sport, helping people to attain or scoring yourself.
‘I all the time wish to be higher than I used to be yesterday. I’m very demanding of myself and take a look at to do my best. I don’t prefer to put limits on myself.’
Rio Ferdinand backs Man Utd to sign Ollie Watkins
Like Mbeumo, Ferdinand has also endorsed Manchester United’s pursuit of Watkins, who has 18 caps for England.
‘I’m greedy, I believe we’d like a centre forward,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘We’d like someone with experience who the opposite centre forwards take a look at and go, ‘that’s a little bit of me’, with none doubts.
‘Ollie Watkins says that, Premier League proven, played within the Champions League last 12 months as well, has done his thing consistently for some time, international, plays for England as well. He ticks all of the boxes.
‘Victor Osimhen was obviously my first pick, that’s an old broken record that’s not going to materialise. But should you’re it now I might go Ollie Watkins should you get him at the best price.
‘He’s 29 years old, there’s no sell-on value, it’s purely to have an effect immediately over the subsequent two or three years which I believe Ollie Watkins can have in way on the centre forwards who’re there. He could be great immediately as well.
‘That front three should you played Ollie Watkins, [Bryan] Mbeumo, [Matheus] Cunha and you may mix that in with Amad, [Mason] Mount, whoever, that’s a tough day’s work for opposing defence on most days.’
Manchester United play three more pre-season friendlies before starting their 2025-26 Premier League campaign on August 17 against Arsenal.
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