Pundit shares ‘huge’ verdict on Aston Villa signing ‘big-name’ Ollie Watkins replacement
Ollie Watkins may get another chance to save his Aston Villa career under Unai Emery.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 27-year-old’s future.
Watkins has bagged four goals in 19 league appearances for Aston Villa this season, with 18 of those appearances coming from the start.
McManus is surprised to see Villa not sign a “big-name” striker this window.
“He hasn’t scored enough goals for Villa. He came from Brentford with a big reputation but it hasn’t happened for him,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“Villa need more goals and I thought Emery would be looking to improve that area. I do think Watkins is a decent player but for the money they spent on him, you want more of a return.
“I thought they were going to strengthen which would have put Watkins at a huge risk. It’s up to him now, he knows he has to improve if he is going to stay there.
“That can sometimes bring the best out of a player. Sometimes they can’t hack it. So we’ll have to see what he does now and if he can stay in that team.
“I thought a big-name striker would have come in. I have said that a few times. But there has been nothing of yet, they have just got rid of Ings.
“Maybe it’s a deal for the summer. It’s always tricky to sign a striker so maybe the guy Emery has in mind is unavailable at the moment.”
Watkins has scored 31 goals in 93 games for Villa.
He arrived at the club from Brentford in the summer of 2020.
In other news, Football Insider sources reveal a critical update as probe into controversial Aston Villa deal imminent.