Ex-Man United man Lee Sharpe believes Ollie Watkins would be a good signing for Man United, admitting surprise that the Reds only have one or two strikers on their books.
Manchester United Football Club have been struggling to start this season. The Red Devils haven’t displayed any consistency in any area of the field, leaving genuine cause for concern.
Erik ten Hag has to front some of the blame. He is the manager, after all. Though when all is said and done, he’s still the right man for the job. More money will have to be spent in order to continue to transform this squad into one that he fully trusts.
Now, ex-Man United star Lee Sharpe believes the 27-year-old Premier League striker, Ollie Watkins, ‘would be great’ for United.
Sharpe looks back on the Treble-winning side that had four centre-forwards and right now, United have just two (Rasmus Hojlund, Anthony Martial). The winger reckons a move for the Aston Villa star would be a good piece of business, with Watkins along with Ivan Toney, players that would improve the top clubs in the country.
Check out what Lee Sharpe had to say in full here:
“I think Ivan Toney would be good at most of the top six or eight clubs. I think he’s proven what a strong centre forward he is, how good he is holding the ball up, doesn’t get injured much and is someone you consistently name in most teams,” he told AGamble.com, per The Mirror. “I think Toney and Ollie Watkins at Villa are two centre-forwards that most of the top six to eight clubs will be looking at.
“I’m always surprised that most clubs only ever have one centre-forward. When United won the treble they had four centre-forwards. I think because they play three up top now with only one centre-forward it makes it a lot more difficult to have a squad with a few centre-forwards in it.
“But I think Ollie Watkins would be great at United. I think he has great vision, great feet, can bring people into play and can score goals. I think he’d relish playing on the big stage.”
I like Watkins and I genuinely think he’d improve this squad. He’d start over Martial as soon as he walks through the door, though Hojlund is only going to get better and better. Would the Villa man be content with sitting on the bench more often than not? I’m not so sure.
As for Toney, he hasn’t kicked a ball in a fair while due to his suspension following breaking gambling rules. He’s another top tier striker when he’s playing at his maximum capacity, though it’s going to take him some time to get back to those levels, particularly after so long away.
Right now, I’d be shocked if United signed another striker in January. There’s no money available right now so it’d have to wait until next summer. Even then, I believe it’d be dependent on another attacker leaving first.
Do you think Ollie Watkins would be a good signing for Man United? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
