Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United suffer transfer blow for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen amid heavy Premier League interest
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Express), Manchester United have suffered a blow in their attempts to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the upcoming summer transfer window, as Arsenal lead the transfer race.
The 23-year-old has picked up right where he left off at Napoli, proving to be their go-to man for goals after impressing at Lille with his ability to pierce through defensive lines. He moved to Italy in 2020, and has turned into a consistent attacking threat.
His displays in Italy have caught the attention of many clubs ahead of the new season, and there is heavy interest from the Premier League for the player as clubs such as Man United, Arsenal, and Newcastle United are keen on securing his services in the near future.
The Red Devils are in need of a forward who can effectively lead the line for them and trouble the opposition defence. They have been overly reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo this campaign, and need another source for their goals next term.
Arsenal in front of United and Newcastle
However, it is said that Arsenal are leading the transfer race to sign Osimhen in the summer, with United and Newcastle following closely behind. The Nigerian is also open to the idea of joining a Premier League side, which could work in their favour.
After missing out on Dusan Vlahovic in January, the Gunners have retained a stronger interest in the Napoli ace due to his pace and physical attributes. These are qualities that would make him a great fit in England, and if they eventually qualify for next season’s Champions League by the summer, they could stand a great chance to prise him away from Napoli.
The north London side are also set to lose Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette at the end of the season when their current deals run out, which opens up a spot for a new signing to take the responsibility of leading the line for the team.
Man United are in a similar boat as well, with Edinson Cavani also set to leave in the summer when his contract expires. With UCL football also not guaranteed next term, they could lose Ronaldo to another team as well, leaving a vacancy up front.
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Newcastle meanwhile, are looking to make their mark under their new, rich Saudi owners and will be keen on making a statement signing to announce their intention to compete with the rest of the best. Osimhen would certainly check the boxes with regard to making a big signing.
However, it seems as though Arsenal’s probability of playing UCL football next season could prove to be a clinching factor in their hunt to secure Osimhen’s signature in the summer. It remains to be seen whether they end up landing the Napoli ace, or Man United can come up trumps at the last minute and have new manager Erik ten Hag convince the player to pick Manchester over London.
