Manchester United are reportedly keen on a summer swoop for Victor Osimhen, but Napoli value the attacker at a whopping £100 million.
According to a report from Daily Star, Manchester United have been dealt with a massive blow in the pursuit of Victor Osimhen. The Napoli attacker was one of Ralf Rangnick’s top goalscoring targets in the summer transfer window, but it appears the Premier League giants are about to be priced out of a potential move.
After signing him for a club-record fee of £70 million in 2020, Napoli are intent on not only recouping that value but also making a handsome profit. As such, they value the player at around £100 million, which would make the Nigerian international one of the most expensive strikers of all time.
Formerly of LOSC Lille, Osimhen has enjoyed relative success since his move to Napoli. While the striker did make a rather slow start to his Serie A career, a strong finish to the 2020/21 campaign saw him bag ten goals in the league. The young forward has maintained his form in the ongoing season, netting seven times in 17 league outings.
Osimhen’s performances in front of goal have been critical in helping Napoli launch an unlikely title bid this season. The Partenopei are currently leading the table, ahead of the two Milan clubs. While the road ahead is certainly difficult, Osimhen’s form could go a long way in helping the club maintain its challenge for the Scudetto this term.
Needless to say, the Nigerian’s contributions in front of goal have not gone unnoticed, with multiple Premier League clubs eyeing him as a top target in the summer. Arsenal, for one, are firm on their desire to make the former Wolfsburg starlet their main number nine next season after losing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a free transfer in January.
Manchester United are another club in contention to sign Osimhen, as the club braces itself for life without Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani. The latter is destined to leave Old Trafford in the summer and has been courted by the two Argentine giants in River Plate and Boca Juniors.
While Osimhen could prove to be an ideal replacement for Cavani, Napoli’s hefty valuation of the Nigerian international makes the deal almost impossible. The same can be said for nearly every other club in the Premier League, with a majority of them only keen on splashing the cash on a few generational talents such as Jude Bellingham or Erling Haaland.