Manchester United have potentially been handed a boost in their pursuit for Ollie Watkins, it has been claimed. Prior to turning their attention to Benjamin Sesko, Watkins had been on their summer transfer wishlist. TheManchester Evening News understands that both rate highly on the club's list of targets after missing out on Liam Delap at the start of the summer. Well-placed sources believe Watkins would be open to joining United, bringing an end to his spell at Aston Villa - the club he joined in 2020 following their promotion to the Premier League, and has since helped qualify for European competition in each of the past two seasons. According to The Mirror, United have been handed a boost in their potential pursuit, as Villa manager Unai Emery is keen to reunite with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson. United have also been linked with a move for the Chelsea forward, though Villa are reportedly 'prepared' to sell Watkins to make the move happen. Watkins is reportedly open to a new challenge and has been unsettled by ongoing transfer speculation this summer. Emery played a key role in Jackson’s development during their time together at Villarreal before the forward moved to Stamford Bridge. The report claims Emery is 'ready' to test Chelsea’s resolve for the Senegal international. However, Chelsea are believed to be holding out for an £80million fee, who still has eight years left on his contract. That said, United have reportedly informed RB Leipzig of their intention to submit an opening bid for Sesko. The Slovenian striker is understood to have a gentleman’s agreement with the Bundesliga club, allowing him to leave if an offer comes from a team he considers ‘special’ and wishes to join. Newcastle United have tried to fend off competition from their rivals by submitting a £65.5million offer, plus £4.3 million in add-ons. With both Sesko and Watkins seemingly available, United need to make a decision. Watkins, who has spent the last five years at Villa Park, has proven himself in the Premier League, while Sesko has begun his senior career in Germany’s Bundesliga. Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.