Manchester United have reportedly asked Napoli about Victor Osimhen’s price, as the Red Devils plot a transfer for the Nigerian hitman.
According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Calcio Napoli, Manchester United are keen to understand what it will take to bring Victor Osimhen to Old Trafford this summer. The Premier League heavyweights have asked Napoli for the Nigerian striker’s price tag, which has hinted toward a possible approach from the club after the season ends.
Victor Osimhen could be set for a move away from Napoli in the summer if interested clubs can cough up Napoli’s asking price. The Serie A giants could demand around €110 million, as they have benchmarked Romelu Lukaku’s move to Chelsea last August.
The Nigerian hitman has been in fine goalscoring form for the Serie A club over the last two years. Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis decided to invest a significant sum of money when purchasing the forward from Lille and is hence asking for a fee that would see Napoli make a sizeable profit from his sale.
Napoli remain open to letting Osimhen leave amid heavy interest from the Premier League. At first, Arsenal were briefly the front-runners for his signature, with Mikel Arteta earmarking him as a summer target. Paying €110 million may be beyond Arsenal’s financial range, and hence, they might have ceased the pursuit altogether.
Newcastle United were also preparing to make a bumper contract offer, which could double Osimhen’s current salary at Napoli. They have the financial clout to compete with some of the biggest clubs like Manchester United by paying huge transfer fees, but the lack of European football could scupper a move.
Manchester United find themselves in a convenient position to make a move for Osimhen. The Red Devils are reportedly leading the chase and may look to accelerate proceedings to secure the services of the Nigerian striker as quickly as possible.
Having struggled across all competitions this season, Manchester United and their fans are looking forward to the summer transfer window, which promises necessary changes to the playing squad. New manager Erik ten Hag will oversee a rebuild, and a striker is part of their transfer plans.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has provided the goal threat consistently this term, while other forwards such as Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and others have looked underwhelming. The idea is to add a goal threat to the team, and Osimhen represents a long-term option.
Manchester United’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League could yet have a bearing on the pursuit of Osimhen, as they are still not sure where they might finish this season. If West Ham win both their remaining games, the Red Devils will only play the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Some may suggest that the competition may not be good enough to convince a player like Osimhen to sign, but the lure of signing for Manchester United is still a factor when convincing targets. The Nigerian would be a solid signing, even for €110 million, and he could vastly improve their attacking unit.