Ollie Watkins is the ideal striker for Manchester United and part of an Aston Villa team capable of a long Uefa Champions League run in 2023/24, former Old Trafford winger Lee Sharpe has said.
Rasmus Hojlund was the only United striker to reach double figures last season but the Denmark international is out for six weeks with a hamstring injury – and Sharpe, who supplied the likes of Eric Cantona, Mark Hughes and Andy Cole during eight years at the club, wishes Watkins was available to Erik ten Hag.
“I love Ollie Watkins,” said Sharpe, who is also a “big fan” of the England international’s club manager, Unai Emery. “I’d love Watkins to sign for United.
“Villa are my childhood team. They’re going to have a really good go at the Champions League and surprise a few people. With a good draw and a slight bit of luck in certain games, they’ve got every chance of going deep in the competition.”
13 @PremierLeague assists.
Enjoy the best of our Playmaker Award winner: Ollie Watkins! 
pic.twitter.com/ue7PZdww4V
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 20, 2024
Watkins Villa stats
Only three players netted more times in the Premier League last season than Watkins, who signed a new contract in October tying him to the Villans since 2027/28 and finished on 27 goals in all competitions.
That form helped Villa reach the Champions League for the first time, continuing their impressive rise under Emery after qualifying for the Europa Conference League at the end of the former Arsenal manager’s first season in charge.
By contrast, 20-time champions United finished in their lowest position for 34 years and scored the joint-fewest goals of any club in the top 10, although their surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City sent them to the Europa League and has added optimism to their pre-season preparations.
United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the US on Sunday was the second time they have failed to score in five friendlies but Sharpe…
Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/aston-villa-ollie-watkins-man-united/
Author : Ben Miller
Publish date : 2024-08-06 07:39:18
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Author : soccernews
Publish date : 2024-08-06 07:46:16
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