Unai Emery has poured cold water on speculation that Ollie Watkins could be set to join Manchester United, claiming the forward’s goals in pre-season are ‘important’ for Aston Villa ahead of the new campaign.
United are plotting a move for Watkins after missing out on top target Viktor Gyokeres and have placed the Villa star on their two-man striker shortlist along with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Watkins netted 17 times in all competitions last term, helping Villa to secure European football for a third year running and becoming the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer in the process.
However, Watkins was less than impressed after he was left out of both legs of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to PSG and there have been reports that the England international could be open to a fresh challenge away from Villa Park.
United sensed an opportunity and made a first approach for Watkins to gauge the 27-year-old’s potential availability earlier this month after conceding defeat in the race for Gyokeres.
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But just as they had done when Arsenal came calling in January, Villa made it clear that they would not be entertaining offers for Watkins and encouraged United to look elsewhere.
Watkins will have been looking to block out the outside noise over his future as Villa continued their pre-season tour of the United States with a 2-1 victory over St Louis City SC on Thursday.
Having found the the net just four days earlier in a 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, Watkins was once again on the scoresheet with what proved to be the decisive goal after Morgan Rogers’ earlier effort at Energizer Park.
Asked if he was pleased to see Watkins amongst the goals ahead of the new season, Emery told reporters: ‘Yes, it’s important for us.
‘Playing even one time, second time… not different shapes, but different players and mixing players.
‘Morgan [Rogers] scored in the first half and Watkins scored in the second half. For them, it is important.
‘But as well, I want to have more players scoring goals. Hopefully we can do that in the next match against Nashville.
The idea now is more than the result, more than our shape. With the players we have to try to get our best performance.
‘We try to play, try to get minutes, get confidence, get fit, sharing players, [working out], how the combination with the players can feel good.
‘We are playing now with Watkins and with Emiliano [Buendia]. We played with Malen as well as a striker.
‘Of course, I am now practising as well and trying to get myself a lot of information from them.’
Emery has been enjoying his time across the pond and is feeling ‘positive’ with the progress that his squad have made on tour.
The Villa head coach added: ‘We’re happy to be here and we’re happy to do our pre-season here in the United States, playing against St Louis City.
‘Our experiences playing here, against MLS teams, are always positive and, here as well, the opponent played well.
‘I think the environment was good, the fans enjoyed the match. Everything is positive.’
When asked about United’s search for a striker following the side’s pre-season clash with Bournemouth, Ruben Amorim opted, instead, to praise Rasmus Hojlund, who scored in the 4-1 win.
Asked whether he had any updates regarding a possible deal for Sesko, Amorim bluntly replied: ‘No.
‘The important thing is Rasmus is scoring goals and connecting really well with the team.’
‘He’s improving. So again, I don’t know what is going to happen until the market is closed.
‘I’m really happy with what is happening with the players we had last season, they are improving.
‘We look like a different team today let’s continue with that. I’m really happy with Bryan [Mbeumo] and Matheus [Cunha].
‘Even Diego [Leon] you can see he’s a smart guy for a guy who came from Paraguay to the Premier League it’s a really powerful player I’m really happy with these three guys.’
Pressed on whether Hojlund still had a future at United should Sesko join, he added: ‘I’m really happy with Rasmus, I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the market.
‘The important thing is the strikers who are here are working hard they are improving and helping the team. That is the most important thing.
‘The important thing is people focus on the goals, we suffered from a lack of goals but I think not just the goals but the way he connects the play.
‘Every time we kick the ball when we are pressed, the ability of him to hold the ball and connect the support is helping us a lot to play better. And we are playing better because he is playing better.’
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