05 Jul 2023 23:34:46
'5 Jul 2023 18:10:04
My mates brother is a pro footballer who plays for villa and has said Ollie Watkins is going to Utd. '


An old school rumour for you lads, from one of our more interesting posters (;

1.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 07:07:30
The Athletic ran a story along similar lines last month. I guess if a deal cannot be done on Hojlund then he remains an viable option.

I imagine if Mbappe saunters off to Madrid and PSG start looking for a striker, they will out bid us for the most attractive options on the market.

2.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 08:42:06
It’s clear we’re not going for a big money plug and play striker by now like a Kane or Martinez.

No reason why we are not after two strikers given our lack of quality in that area. Martial needs to be sold, leaving only Rashford who works better on the left.

I was convinced Greenwood would stay, but maybe a loan for a season would be better for all parties concerned if the club plan on keeping him.

3.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 10:42:00
Would be happy with Folarin Balogun and Mehdi Taremi (if could be arranged obv) over one big name striker.

Main thing is just to get through this window with budgetary restraints, FFP and takeover hanging over us.

With this in mind, looks like United recruitment staff doing a good job so far with one hand tied behind their backs.

Hoping Onana in next, sell Fred, DVB, Elanga and McTominay, then bring in Amrabat and cheaper strikers.

Mount, Onana, Amrabat, Balogun and Teremi woukd be an amazing window given what’s going on in the background.

4.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 10:48:46
Depending on what we do for striker we will need to bring in more than one. Whilst there are a lot of names out there (Muani/ Martinez/ Hojland) it would not surprise me if we looked at a player in the Premier League to supplement, with Tony suspended and possibly Ferguson seen as too young Watkins may be the next best option.

5.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 11:14:23
Hoijlund most reported in the press, I don’t see a second striker being signed, all depends what happens with Greenwood too Rash and Martial as back up CF, I’d love Kane but seems unlikely, second to that I’d like Ramos, Ed says something can be done there so hopefully, so in conclusion to me it’s Hoijlund or Ramos.

6.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 11:50:00
Ollie Watkins would be priced very expensive I suspect and they would ask 50/ 60 million pounds as it seems to be a fashionable number.

I think emery even went as far as saying he is worth a 100 mill last year. Let's assume Hoiland fee or Ramos are in the same zip code. All comes down to how the club rates them based on what they have seen.

7.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 12:56:40
Ivan Toney is the one I’d be going for, despite the ban. Decent player.

8.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 13:16:00
I quite like Watkins, an unspectacular but consistent goalscorer. I think he'd have been a strong contender for a move somewhere if Villa weren't on the up themselves. Could be a great year for them.

I really think Martial is going to be a tough sell and coupled with his wages I think we'll be lumbered with him for a while yet and maybe another player who is content sitting in the wings running their contract down.
It looks like Greenwood is going to be sticking around one way or another, but given that the closest he has come to playing professional football for many months has been on his PlayStation maybe a short-term loan is for the best with a view to him hitting the ground running maybe in winter.
Hojlund, I like what I've seen without being overly excited - we're gagging to fill the shirt of the main centre forward at Manchester United and it seems like quite slim pickings at the moment.

9.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 13:21:08
Is there any interest in Watkins Ed? Quite a step down from Kane but most would be. Would likely be very expensive as well.

{Ed002's Note - Yes but not from Manchester United.}

10.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 13:48:17
Read somewhere? that icardi could be available for circa 20m? don't know if he is of interest but if true definately worth a 2/ 3 season deal.

{Ed002's Note - Icardi is not moving to Manchester.}

11.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 14:08:37
Rasmus Hojlund would be my pick.
He looks a proper unit, can hold the ball up, brings players in to the game. Can assist, strong in the air and quick.
The only thing ne needs work on is his finishing which will come the more experience he gets. He looks like a Man United player in my opinion.
Still only 20 as well.

12.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 17:07:28
And with a brief stroke of his keys, ed002 buried our silly little rumour.

13.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 18:09:38
Ed has to keep it short and sweet because there will be another Arambat thread to respond too before long.

14.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 18:13:26
Watkins is decent but nowhere near good enough for a team aspiring to win titles. We need a striker who can hold the ball up well. We have a lot of smaller attacking players.

15.) 06 Jul 2023
06 Jul 2023 20:42:03
Greenwood will outscore Haaland this year. We need someone to keep him on the straight and narrow and keep him interested in banging goals in, not women's jaws.
Hoijlund is probably one for next year, or January.
We have enough up top, especially if Martial stays.
Rashford, Garnacho, Anthony etc.
Enough goals and supply for the goal machine Greenwood to work with.