Sensational rumors claim that Manchester United has re-joined Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in their pursuit of star striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen had a great 2022–23 season, scoring 31 goals in 39 games and helping the team win a trophy that had been long expected, although he was heavily projected to depart Napoli last summer.
The attacker chose to remain in place, though, as he went on to sign a new deal with a €130 million (£111 million) release clause.
Still, Osimhen and Napoli’s 2023–24 season was disappointing. Despite missing numerous games because of illness, injuries, and the Africa Cup of Nations, the player has still managed to score 17 goals in 31 appearances.
Meanwhile, Napoli has fallen from grace after failing to retain their Serie A title down to as low as 10th in the table.
Osimhen appears to be even more likely than in 2023 to leave Napoli this summer, and a number of teams are lining up to sign him.
PSG thinks the Nigerian would be a great Kylian Mbappe successor, but the Premier League will compete with them for his services.
Osimhen is rumored to be keen on moving to Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea need a new striker.
However, rumors coming out of Italy state that Man Utd and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have re-entered the race for Osimhen.
Rasmus Hojlund needs a striker with experience, and Osimhen is the ideal candidate for the position, according to the Red Devils. He is 25 years old, four years older than Hojlund, and he has objectives in Italy, France and Belgium so far.
Finances are understood to be tight at Old Trafford, so Ratcliffe must work smartly to fund a huge swoop for Osimhen.
Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane’s departures have already been verified. To match Osimhen’s £111 million asking price, Ratcliffe may have to sell players such as Christian Eriksen, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Antony, Casemiro, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Christian Eriksen.
Although Osimhen’s season hasn’t lived up to his high expectations, it’s probably just a blip, and once he gets to England, he’ll be ready to go.
If players surrounding him at Manchester United provide him with adequate support, the former Lille star could challenge Erling Haaland for future Golden Boots.
After Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis chastised his star player for only playing half of the games he should have, Ratcliffe reignited Man Utd’s pursuit of Osimhen featured in this term.
“You can’t force coaches to train a club or you can’t make sure that your first striker scores 28 goals and that he is not ill and that perhaps he participated in 50 per cent of the matches he should have played,” the club chief said.