Aston Villa warned of 'massive risk' if they sell star player
Villa have been warned they would be taking a “massive risk” selling Ollie Watkins this summer amid Manchester United’s interest in the striker.
The Red Devils are understood to have the 29-year-old at the top of their list of forward targets, along with RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko.
Villa value Watkins, their all-time Premier League top scorer, at £60million and insist he is not for sale.
Yet it is thought United may still attempt to test the water with a formal offer, later in the window, despite their own valuation of the England international being closer to £40m. Villa turned down a similar offer from Arsenal in the January window.
Garry Thompson, the club’s former striker, believes the importance of Watkins to Unai Emery’s team is such that only a huge bid should even get Villa thinking of selling.
He told the Express & Star: “It would be a massive risk. Ollie is stable, you know what you are going to get with him.
“He will get you goals, he doesn’t get injured an awful lot. People might complain about him but until you can find someone who is two or three levels better, you have to stick with the kid.
“So long as he is hungry and still wants to play, you stick with him.”
Watkins has scored 87 goals in all competitions since joining from Brentford for £33m five summers ago, missing only a handful of matches through injury.
Villa, who sold Jhon Duran for a deal which could eventually be worth £70m in January, are expected to target another striker to back-up Watkins in the closing weeks of the current window.
Thompson continued: “You know what you are going to get from Ollie. If he stays with us for the season, you know what he will deliver.
“That then gives you time to bring in someone else to challenge him and put him under pressure.
“If you sell him and then bring someone in, they have to hit the ground running.
“You also have to be bringing in someone of the level who can play in a team challenging for the Champions League and that costs money.
“Watkins is fit as anything, covers ground, makes great runs, scores goals, gets knocked down and gets back up.
“He’s been a brilliant signing and unless you are guaranteed a massive amount of money, you have to keep him.”
