COMMENT: Ollie Watkins and Erik ten Hag. Sometimes - indeed most of the time - you don't need that flash foreign thing. Sometimes the best bet is tried, tested and local. And that's especially true if you're manager of Manchester United...
He wants a 'guarantee', does Ten Hag. Or as he puts it, a "no risk" striker signing. Harry Kane, of course, offers that. A proven Premier League goalscorer. Indeed a proven goalscorer at any level. But with Daniel Levy, Kane's chairman at Tottenham, determined to be as stubborn as ever in negotiations, United and Ten Hag are now looking elsewhere.
As we've stated in past columns, Ten Hag doesn't want one centre-forward signing, but two. The plan being that "no risk", senior striker to arrive alongside a younger, project player. United's manager has not minced words about his squad's lack of firepower. What he says in public is exactly the same message relayed to the club's top brass: this summer must be about boosting the quality of United's attack.
With Ten Hag and John Murtough, United's technical director, all but accepting defeat regarding Kane's situation, the usual subjects are again being explored. Victor Osimhen, Napoli's title winning striker. Eintracht Frankfurt's World Cup finalist Randal Kolo Muani. And Goncalo Ramos, the Benfica centre-forward. They're all under consideration by United's brainstrust.
But a new name popped up last week. And it's one that makes a lot of sense for what Ten Hag is seeking. Ollie Watkins is now being seriously considered by Ten Hag. A proven Premier League goalscorer. A player with an impressive track record. And at 27 one, after working these past eight months with Unai Emery, who has shown a willingness to adapt to new ideas and systems. Watkins is emerging as a serious contender in United's centre-forward search.
As we say, for this column it's a move that makes sense. And it's one in the traditions of the era of Sir Alex Ferguson. Indeed, for every Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fergie would double or triple up on local know-how. Andrew Cole. Dwight Yorke. Teddy Sheringham. They were all proven Premier League goalscorers before being brought to Old Trafford. Eric Cantona had his season with Leeds. Mark Hughes was brought back from Bayern Munich, after his time with Barcelona. Ferguson more often than not sought that 'guarantee'. The striker in question wasn't always a flash name. Nor a proven international. But he could do the job at Premier League level. And that's what Ferguson always sought...
Which is why, for United fans, there should be real encouragement in Ten Hag's approach. There's a practical side to the Dutchman. This isn't Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's A-list or bust attitude. United's current manager is willing to be pragmatic. Indeed, he favours it. The name of Ollie Watkins may not excite the average fan like an Osimhen. He may not be viewed as an England prospect by Gareth Southgate. But he'll get you goals. And for many inside the game, Villa's No11 is an underrated quantity.
It's why Marco Neppe, Bayern Munich's technical director, made a personal trip to Villa Park in April. In the middle of Watkins' run of 11 goals in 15 games, Neppe made it his business to run a check on Watkins up close. This news broke as Arsenal chief Edu was again exploring the centre-forward's situation. He may not get the headlines, but those inside the game know the quality that Watkins offers.
But this goes further than ability. It's also about attitude. Application. It's about a player who has ditched regular summer jaunts to Ibiza to instead work with renowned striker coach Scott Chickelday. It's about a pro who is now happy to report early to Bodymoor Heath before the formal kickoff to preseason training. And it's about a man willing, as mentioned, to soak up the coaching and advice from his manager to the benefit of himself and his team.
"I spoke with [Watkins] at the beginning about the relationship here," declared Emery at the beginning of April. "I told him that I want the best of you and the way he is doing; practising, being humble to improve. This is the way.
"For us, Ollie Watkins is very important. He's not only scoring but his commitment every day, trying to add more work, watching his clips.
"He's the first defence in our idea, trying to be consistent. He's working very well with the high pressing. He's trying to fight with the defenders. He's scoring and he's adding the best quality as a striker - the goal."
Pressing from the front. Fighting with defenders. But also delivering goals. It's what Emery likes in his centre-forward - as does Ten Hag. The attraction for United's manager is obvious.
Over his six years with United, Andrew Cole won everything there was in the game - at least at club level. But as outrageous as it seems today, England never took Cole to an international tournament. Glenn Hoddle never rated him. Nor did Terry Venables. But at United, under Ferguson, Cole was spectacular - at both Premier League and Champions League level. Ferguson broke the British transfer record to prise Cole away from a furious Newcastle in 1995. The brief was simple: give me goals. And Cole delivered that and much, much more.
Watkins, like Cole, has had to fight for everything in this game. A background of Exeter City and Weston-super-Mare will hardly set the pulse racing. But it gave Watkins a grounding and has contributed to a development path that has him today being mentioned with Bayern Munich, Arsenal and United.
And like Cole, it's an arc that could well see him thrive in the environment that is Manchester United. Tried, tested and local. Sometimes you just don't need that flash foreign thing.
