AC Milan are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins, as Manchester United end their pursuit of the English international and focus on a move for Benjamin Sesko.
Will Ollie Watkins Leave Aston Villa?
The Aston Villa star has been in the headlines for the majority of this summer transfer window, seemingly looking to move on for the Villains and begin life at a new club next season.
Both Manchester United and Newcastle have been heavily linked with the Englishman, with the latter showing heavy interest following Alexander Isak’s reported request to move on.
As for the Red Devils, transfer specialists like Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein have revealed that Ruben Amorim is prioritizing a striker before the window comes to an end – with Watkins being the Portuguese coach’s leading option.
However, the board members at United are said to prefer a move for RB Leipzig star, Benjamin Sesko, with the club making ‘informal contact’ with the Slovenian.
Eddie Howe’s side are also keen on the Bundesliga star, but Sesko is reportedly keen on a move to Manchester and the Toon may miss out on another target this summer.
Losing out on Sesko could push the Magpies into a move for Ollie Watkins this summer, but the Brit’s deal with Aston Villa is set to expire in June 2028 meaning any bid would need to be around $70 million.
Watkins has made 223 appearances for the Villains since joining the club in September 2020 and the striker has contributed to 129 goals along the way (87G + 42A).
Villa are not looking to sell their star talisman this summer, but Watkins is said to be pushing for a move and offshore betting sites have priced Manchester United as favorites to land the 29-year-old.
However, another option which has popped up across different media platforms is a move to Serie A and in particular, a summer transfer to AC Milan.
Are AC Milan Going To Sign Ollie Watkins?
The Rossoneri endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign under Sergio Conceicao, finishing eighth in Serie A and exiting the Champions League following a Ro16 exit against Feyenoord.
Milan will not be competing in Europe next season, which has caused difficulty in signing players this summer, but the seven-time UCL winners have signed Luka Modric and Samuele Ricci to bolster the midfield.
More signings are expected to come through the San Siro doors this summer, as Real Madrid are reportedly willing to sell Ferland Mendy to the Italian side after Xabi Alonso opts to use Fran Garcia this season.
Although bringing Mendy in would be a smart addition following Theo Hernandez’s exit, the Rossoneri will be looking to add some attacking firepower to their roster.
Christian Pulisic was the clubs’ leading goalscorer in Serie A last season with just 11 goals, which is far behind the likes of Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli) and Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna).
This damning statistic could push Allegri into a striker signing this summer, making Watkins an interesting option for the Serie A giants – however no contact has been made over a deal.
