Roland Cutinho
Manchester United planning the next step in their pursuit of signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Daily Express), Manchester United are ‘waiting for the right time’ to place a bid for Napoli star striker Victor Osimhen.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker has had a remarkable season for Napoli, impressing with his match-winning performances. In the 2022-23 campaign, he scored 28 goals and provided five assists in 37 matches across various competitions.
Osimhen excelled in the UEFA Champions League, finding the net five times in six appearances. In Serie A alone, he contributed 23 goals and five assists in 30 games, helping Napoli secure the league title.
With only two years remaining on his current contract with Napoli, there is a lot of speculation surrounding his future, as several clubs are reportedly interested in acquiring his services.
The former Lille striker has attracted significant interest from Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, and Chelsea. However, Man United are said to be leading the race to sign the Nigerian star.
While United are also reportedly pursuing Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is expected to resist selling the English striker to a rival Premier League club.
Hence, the Red Devils may consider Osimhen their preferred choice for the striker position, and the Serie A giants could be open to selling the Nigerian player in the upcoming transfer window.
According to the Daily Mail, United would need to offer €120 million (£140m) if they want to have a chance of acquiring Osimhen’s services.
The club has been in talks with his agent regarding a potential move, and the player is aware of the speculation surrounding him.
However, as stated by the Manchester Evening News, Osimhen revealed that he has put his fate in the hands of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. Ultimately, the striker would agree with the decision taken by the club’s president, even if that meant he needed to stay in Italy.
The Serie A giants have always been strict with their negotiations, and United faced a similar fate way back in 2018 when they failed to negotiate a massive deal for centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.
Also, Ten Hag’s side is set to receive approximately €70m solely from TV revenue due to their Champions League qualification. However, there are concerns about whether the Glazer family will provide substantial financial support to manager Erik ten Hag.
The extent of United’s transfer activities during the summer transfer window may rely heavily on player sales. The potential impact of a takeover bid on the overall dynamics of the club remains uncertain, as the Glazers have not yet made any decisions regarding the process.
Consequently, securing new signings appears challenging at the moment for Man United. Additionally, the club needs to consider the Financial Fair Play regulations, which played a role in their limited spending during the previous January transfer window.
Hence, considering this situation and the ongoing takeover saga, it is highly unlikely that they will splash such a high amount of amount on signing the prolific goalscorer.
The club could play the patience game and wait for Napoli to lower their asking fee for the 24-year-old Nigerian striker.
Marcus Rashford was the top scorer for United last season, scoring 29 goals in all competitions, followed by Bruno Fernandes with 11 goals.
Anthony Martial, who has only managed eight goals, is expected to leave the club permanently during the summer transfer window. Wout Weghorst, on loan from Burnley since January, has scored only two goals and is unlikely to join the club permanently.
More Manchester United News
- Luke Shaw admits to doing his best to tap up Manchester United targets
- Paul Pogba opens up about his exit from Manchester United with honesty
- Aston Villa have Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho on their radar
Considering these circumstances, there is a possibility of United signing a new forward this summer. In addition, Ten Hag is also interested in strengthening the team with a new centre-back and a central midfielder.
