Aston Villa and Unai Emery are reportedly looking to sign a new striker in the upcoming summer transfer window to relieve the pressure on Ollie Watkins, according to Alan Hutton. The English forward has faced criticism from Troy Deeney for his recent performances, with Deeney suggesting that Watkins has lacked confidence in front of goal. While Hutton acknowledges that Watkins’ form has dipped slightly, he believes that all strikers go through dry spells and expects him to bounce back. Hutton suggests that Villa should consider bringing in competition for Watkins in the summer, not to replace him but to support him. Watkins has been a key player for Villa this season, featuring in all 24 Premier League matches and contributing 16 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. Despite Deeney’s comments, Watkins had scored twice in his last two league games before the loss to Manchester United, indicating that his dip in form may be overstated. However, it is clear that Emery has heavily relied on Watkins as the main striker this season, and Hutton’s suggestion to strengthen the forward line in the summer would benefit both Watkins and Villa.
According to the Source caughtoffside.com