Ollie Watkins Transfer Sparks Villa Move for €80m Aghehowa

Ollie Watkins transfer speculation has reached fever pitch, and Aston Villa are already plotting their next move. With Manchester United circling the England international, Unai Emery’s recruitment team have identified FC Porto goal-getter Sami Aghehowa as the ideal successor—yet prising the Spaniard away from the Estádio do Dragão could cost a hefty €80 million (£69m).

Ollie Watkins transfer saga: why United want the striker

The Ollie Watkins transfer story has rumbled on since January, but it accelerated once United’s new ownership group sought a reliable Premier League scorer. Watkins, 28, has hit double figures in three consecutive top-flight seasons, blending relentless pressing with sharp movement in the box. Erik ten Hag values that selfless work rate, especially with Marcus Rashford drifting wide and Rasmus Højlund still developing. Sources in Manchester suggest an opening bid north of £55 million is in discussion, though Villa’s hierarchy privately insist they will not undersell a player under contract until 2028.

Villa’s contingency plan: scouting Sami Aghehowa

While supporters debate the Ollie Watkins transfer exit, Villa’s data department have cast the net across Europe. Sami Aghehowa tops their metrics list after smashing 22 goals in all competitions for Porto last term. The Spanish-born poacher, 24, averages 0.58 non-penalty goals per 90 and ranks in the 93rd percentile for progressive runs among Primeira Liga forwards. His €80 million release clause is steep, but Villa know Porto routinely demand full value—just as they did with Luis Díaz and Eder Militao.

How Aghehowa would fit in Unai Emery’s 4-2-2-2

Emery relies on vertical transitions, asking his two strikers to stretch defences while deep midfielders spring the traps. Watkins’ pace is crucial to that model, so any Ollie Watkins transfer out means the successor must replicate those aggressive runs. Aghehowa’s heat maps show heavy activity between centre-backs, and his 34 sprints per match align with Emery’s demands. Equally important, the Spaniard is two-footed, converting 38% of last season’s strikes with his left, an asset that could dovetail with Moussa Diaby’s inverted bursts from the right.

Financial logistics of an €80 million swoop

Some Villa fans recoil at an €80 million outlay, yet a potential Ollie Watkins transfer to Old Trafford would bank a similar figure. Villa recorded record revenues after their Europa Conference League run and shirt-sleeve sponsorship deals, meaning they could amortise Aghehowa’s fee over a five-year contract without breaching Premier League profit-and-sustainability rules. Porto, meanwhile, view summer 2024 as the optimum selling window because Aghehowa’s deal expires in 2026 and the striker has so far resisted extending on the same wage tier as Pepe or Evanilson.

Head-to-head: Watkins vs Aghehowa

• Goals per 90: Watkins 0.46 | Aghehowa 0.58
• Pressures per 90: Watkins 19.7 | Aghehowa 17.9
• Aerial duels won: Watkins 2.4 | Aghehowa 1.7
• Big chances created: Watkins 11 | Aghehowa 8

The numbers suggest Villa would gain a marginally more prolific finisher but lose a fraction of defensive work rate. However, at 24, Aghehowa still has physical upside, whereas Watkins is closer to his peak. Emery might also relish moulding a younger talent who can be flipped for profit in three years, following Villarreal’s Pau Torres trajectory.

What the move means for Villa’s dressing-room dynamic

Senior figures such as John McGinn and Emi Martínez regard Watkins as a leadership presence—he rarely misses training, sets gym-testing records and mentors academy graduates. An Ollie Watkins transfer would therefore create a cultural void. To mitigate that risk, Villa have sounded out Spain captain Álvaro Morata as an additional short-term option, though his wage demands remain high. Aghehowa himself is known for a quiet personality, so Villa’s sports-psyche department is preparing an integration programme similar to the one that smoothed Pau Torres’ switch from La Liga.

Competitive landscape: Newcastle, Arsenal also monitoring

Villa are not alone; Newcastle scouts watched Aghehowa during Porto’s Champions League last-16 tie, while Arsenal considered him before signing Kai Havertz. A bidding war would inflate the fee, yet Villa believe their sporting director Monchi’s strong relationship with Porto CEO Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa could fast-track negotiations. Crucially, Watkins’ camp will not push for an exit unless United guarantee regular starts, and the Mancunian club must first offload fringe attackers to balance wages.

The road ahead and likely timelines

United hope to finalise the Ollie Watkins transfer before pre-season in early July; Villa, in turn, would trigger Aghehowa’s clause immediately to allow him time in Emery’s tactical sessions. Should United delay, Villa may offer Watkins an improved deal worth £150k per week—sources close to the player hint he still loves Birmingham life. Either way, Villa are determined not to enter 2024/25 without a top-tier centre-forward.

Short opinion

From a neutral perspective, Villa’s proactive stance is commendable. Selling an established star and immediately investing in a younger, statistically superior talent mirrors the smartest clubs on the continent. If Aghehowa adapts quickly, the Midlands outfit could emerge from the saga stronger, not weaker—transforming perceived loss into long-term gain.