Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United receive transfer blow as Napoli star Victor Osimhen to stay in Italy next season
According to Sky Italy journalist Mario Giunta (h/t Express), Napoli ace Victor Osimhen is set to stay in Italy next season despite interest from several clubs, causing Manchester United a transfer blow for the player.
The Nigeria international rose to stardom in Ligue 1 with Lille, turning in amazing numbers in front of goal and proving to be a consistent scoring threat. His displays in France convinced Napoli to splash the cash on him, and he has continued his impressive displays in Italy as well.
Guinta said that the forward is likely to stay with his current club beyond the summer as well, with his manager Luciano Spalletti and club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis ‘crazy’ about him. This is sure to come as a blow to many clubs, including United, who were interested in Osimhen.
“There are many clubs on the Nigerian, but I feel like giving some news: Osimhen will stay in Naples again next season. Aurelio De Laurentiis and Luciano Spalletti are crazy about him and have no intention of getting rid of him.”
The Red Devils are in the market this summer to reinforce their attacking ranks and bolster the squad, as they look to begin a new era at Old Trafford with a new, permanent manager and the team that he puts together to bring back silverware to the Theatre of Dreams.
“He is fine”
With 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 35-year-old Edinson Cavani leading the line for us, there is a need for the club to snap up a young and effective striker at the end of the season as there is no guarantee as to how long either star will continue to play for us.
Osimhen’s name may be ruled out as a replacement for United’s current forwards, with Giunta suggesting that the Nigerian is not pressing for a move and is happy with his current pay structure in Naples.
“In addition, the former Lille man earns important figures in Campania. He is fine and doesn’t press to go away.”
Although a blow to United, it also comes as a transfer shock to other clubs like Newcastle United, who were eyeing the player in the summer. The 23-year-old has caught the attention of several sides, but is set to disappoint everyone by staying put at Napoli.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick also admitted that they were looking for a new striker at the end of the season as a result of Cavani’s impending exit. The player’s contract runs out in the summer, and so far, there have not been any solid updates on whether both club and player were looking for a solution together.
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Marcus Rashford has also looked out of form this season, so if Cavani leaves, it will be up to Ronaldo and Rashford to score the goals for us. However, neither of them have been consistent enough this term, so there are doubts about them leading the line next campaign effectively.
United will have to look at other transfer targets if this is the case, but they will know that there aren’t a lot of other strikers in the market quite like Osimhen. Only time will tell who the club end up at the beginning of the next campaign- if we actually sign any, to begin with.
