Ollie Watkins next club odds: Will he remain at Villa? Newcastle interested, Man Utd also in frame

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins is a target for Newcastle and Manchester United as the Midlands club weigh up whether or not to cash in on the 29-year-old this summer.

Villa need to make sales in order to comply with the Premier League’s PSR guidelines, and while the departure of Jacob Ramsey for Newcastle eases financial concerns, the Villans may yet need to cash in on sellable assets.

Emiliano Martinez has been linked with a summer exit, as has Morgan Rogers, while Watkins is another who could leave before the transfer window closes.

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Villa’s failure to secure Champions League football, incidentally due to their final day defeat to United, proved a further hindrance in their bid to retain their star players.

With the England international potentially departing for pastures new, we’ve run through the best bookmaker odds in the UK for the striker’s next club. 

Aston Villa – 1/5 (bet365)

As alluded to, Ramsey’s switch to Newcastle does ease Villa’s need to sell. An academy product, Ramsey’s sale counts towards put profit, but will it be enough to ward off any potential penalties from football’s lawmakers? That remains to be seen.

Even so, with United opting to instead move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Watkins is now at 1/5 with bet365 to be a Villa player by the time the transfer window closes.

Villa have already strengthened on the frontline this year, bringing in both Donyell Malen in January and Evann Guessand earlier this month, and the addition of this pair in 2025 would easy any potential exit, but the odds suggest Watkins remains at Villa Park.

Newcastle – 9/2 (bet365)

It’s no secret that Newcastle need a striker as rumours of Alexander Isak’s push for a summer exit continue to do the rounds. Isak is reportedly determined to leave the Magpies this month with Liverpool a viable destination for the Swedish goal machine. Even before the former Real Sociedad man angled for a move to Anfield, Newcastle were in for another striker as they pushed for Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool, though, won the race to sign the Frenchman and are looking to land a double blow on the Magpies as they consider another Isak move. Newcastle have sought to ease their star striker’s likely exit with the impending arrival of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, but could they follow up his capture with another Premier League experienced forward with a potential return to the Midlands?

Newcastle are currently at 9/2 with bet365 to be Watkins’ next club, and a selfless forward of his calibre would certainly prove a boost for Eddie Howe’s side. However, the Magpies are as short as 2/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral to sign Watkins and if Villa do become desperate to sell the 29-year-old this month, then St. James’ Park may become a viable destination for the Torquay-born hitman.

Manchester United – 12/1 (bet365)

Even after Manchester United secured the services of Benjamin Sesko, they remain at 12/1 with bet365 to sign Watkins this summer. The likely departure of Rasmus Hojlund for AC Milan would leave just Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee as United’s only recognised senior strikers and even without European football, Ruben Amorim would want options for his 3-4-2-1 setup.

The previous interest in Watkins from United means they are as short as 7/2 with Ladbrokes to be the frontman’s next club. United evidently have money to burn, though if recent rumours are to be believed, central midfield looks to be their next port of all as they continue to push for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

Any German, French, Italian or Spanish side – 12/1 (BetVictor)

A number of English stars are looking to ply their trade abroad. Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold have swapped Manchester and Liverpool, respectively, for sunnier climes this summer. Harry Kane is approaching his third season in Germany, while Tammy Abraham recently swapped Italy for Turkiye.

While Watkins may be eager to continue in England, a summer switch to any German, French, Italian or Spanish side is currently at 12/1 with BetVictor.

Any Saudi Arabian side – 20/1 (Ladbrokes)

Ollie Watkins wouldn’t be the first Villa striker to swap England for Saudi Arabia in 2025. Jhon Duran left to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr at the turn of the year, though has since departed on loan for Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce. Even so, Watkins is at 20/1 with Ladbrokes to make the move to the Middle East.

He isn’t the only Villa player being courted by Saudi Arabian side, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also tipped to make a lucrative switch abroad. With their transfer window open until September 10th, an additional nine days after the European window closes, Villa would be reluctant to lose Watkins without first landing a replacement… but money does talk, and this may well come to fruition if a Saudi side looks to make a splash in the market.