Manchester United could move for £90 million striker in the summer window, journalist claims.
Manchester United target Victor Osimhen will have his future decided by Napoli at the end of the season, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed to GIVEMESPORT.
Osimhen is one big-name striker being touted with a move to Old Trafford in the summer, but Romano has tipped negotiations to be difficult for the Premier League side.
Manchester United transfer news – Victor Osimhen
According to ESPN,Osimhen is one of three centre-forward options United are eyeing up ahead of the summer transfer window.
Alongside the Napoli marksman, United are also rumoured to be keen on Slovenian starlet Benjamin Sesko and Tottenham Hotspur’s record goalscorer Harry Kane.
It’s believed that despite signing Wout Weghorst in the January window, Erik ten Hag is keen to land a long-term centre-forward option, with those three names touted as potential options.
As for Osimhen, ESPN are also reporting his signing could cost United close to £90 million, should Napoli even entertain negotiations.
Having joined Napoli in 2020, the Nigerian international still has over two years left on his current deal, with his contract set to run out in July 2025.
There have already been suggestions that United would be hard-pressed to strike a deal with Napoli, something reiterated by journalist Carlo Garganese in a recent interview with GMS.
Garganese dubbed Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis as the “absolute master” at selling big stars, hinting he’d hold out for a big fee, should United come knocking for Osimhen.
What has Fabrizio Romano now said about Osimhen to United?
Clearly a player of interest to the Stretford-based outfit, Osimhen’s future ahead of the 2023/24 season remains up in the air.
Transfer guru Romano told GMS in an interview that any decision on the striker will likely be taken at the end of the season.
On United’s search for a striker, Romano said: “Dusan Vlahovic depends on the Juventus situation.
“Victor Osimhen at the moment, Napoli don’t even want to negotiate for him.
“Napoli just want to focus on the season and then in the summer they will decide on how many players they sell.
”Would Osimhen suit United and ten Hag’s style?
Osimhen’s goal record speaks for itself. So far this season, the Nigerian has bagged 17 goals in 21 matches, while providing a further four assists to teammates (Transfermarkt).
His goals have helped catapult Napoli to the top of Serie A, with their first Scudetto since 1990 now a distinct possibility.
The Napoli talisman ranks in the top two per cent of strikers for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref.
However, one thing that might put United off signing Osimhen in the summer is his injury record, with the 24-year-old having missed over 40 matches since arriving in Naples.
Incoming Chelsea signing explains why he chose Blues after Man Utd transfer plea
The highly-rated teenager has signed for Chelsea and will arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer after agreeing to remain at Lyon for the rest of the current campaign
Chelsea’s January addition Malo Gusto came close to joining the Blues’ Premier Leauge rivals Manchester United, but has since explained why he favoured a move to West London.
Under the ownership of Todd Boehly, Chelsea enjoyed a record-breaking January transfer window and spent £323million in the process. £26m of that eye-watering figure went on Lyon right Gusto, who will spend the remainder of the season with the French outfit before starting his new chapter at Stamford Bridge next summer.
Erik ten Hag’s side were thought to be very keen on the prospect of enticing Gusto to Old Trafford, especially given their own struggles at right-back in recent seasons.
While both of their current options in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot do a job, both certainly have a technical ceiling and Ten Hag is seemingly keen on raising the bar at right-back sooner rather than later.
19-year-old Gusto was viewed as the player to do that and at one stage a move to United seemed close, but he has since explained what it was about Chelsea that made the switch so appealing.
Gusto shed light on how the transfer unfolded while speaking to TeleFoot, claiming: “I’m happy to join Chelsea, it was almost last minute — was a good proposal, with a good project behind it. We spoke for months.
Malo Gusto has been confirmed as a Chelsea player and will link up with the Blues in the summer ( Image: Getty Images)
“Chelsea are very big club. I know what to expect, and I sign to play and impose myself there.
“We are not where we should be! There is always a little apprehension. Chelsea is a very big club, I’m changing countries. But when I sign, I know what to expect, and I sign to play and win.”
Some may question why Gusto was so keen to join the Blues when they already boast one of the best right-backs in the world in Reece James.
With that being said, the England ace has desperately struggled to maintain fitness in recent months and as a result Gusto may feel there will be a window to stake his claim for a place soon enough.
Source: givemesport.com; mirror.co.uk
