Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has reportedly ruled out a move to Liverpool or Chelsea, as his preferred destinations are Manchester United and Real Madrid.
According to former Napoli and Italy midfielder Salvatore Bagni, quoted by the Evening Standard, Victor Osimhen only views Manchester United and Real Madrid as his preferred destinations and rules out moves to Chelsea and Liverpool due to the lack of Champions League football.
Ex-Italy midfielder Bagni said: “Victor Osimhen won’t return to France because he already played there. The same thing with Germany. He doesn’t go to Liverpool or Chelsea because they do not play the Champions League.
“Of all the teams associated with him, for me, he would only go to Manchester United and Real Madrid. He’s not interested in the other teams.”
Although reportedly happy with life in Naples, Osimhen has emerged as one of the top transfer targets for clubs across Europe following a sensational season that saw the 24-year-old become Serie A’s Capocannoniere, contributing to Napoli’s first Scudetto in 33 years with 26 goals in 32 matches. Meanwhile, the Partenopei also reached the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Chelsea have shortlisted him as a potential option and are ready to break the bank to land the mercurial striker, with signing an elite striker a top priority for newly appointed boss Mauricio Pochettino this summer as they prepare to offload Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following dismal spells at Stamford Bridge, while Liverpool are also said to be prepared to hold talks.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, are considering making an offer of more than €100 million as they themselves look to bring in a new long-term option up front.
The Nigerian international is under contract until June 2025. President Aurelio De Laurentiis is known to be one of the most notorious negotiators in world football and is unlikely to negotiate on the fee for the marksman. As things stand, Osimhen is priced at €150 million by the reigning Serie A champions.
However, the asking price might not be the only stumbling block that the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea will face in their pursuit of one of the hottest attacking talents in world football, with the 24-year-old only interested in a summer move to two clubs, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Red Devils have made a new No. 9 their priority this summer as they became highly reliant on Marcus Rashford last season following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, while loan signing Wout Weghorst failed to impress in front of goal.
Osimhen has been regularly linked with the club, and the Nigerian would be the ideal number nine in Erik ten Hag’s system.
The same goes for Real Madrid, who are also operating without a renowned centre-forward, having replaced Karim Benzema with stop-gap Joselu. Osimhen is not only a clinical finisher; he’s physically strong, an aerial threat, has good link-up play and possesses a quick burst of speed.
But the elephant in the room remains whether any of his two preferred sides can afford his services this summer. De Laurentiis is even prepared to keep the striker for another year in case the transfer valuation is not met, as he suggested last week that the club had reached an agreement to extend their star striker’s stay at the club.
