Manchester United run the risk of being trumped by a bitter rival to the signing of Victor Osimhen after Liverpool opened negotiations for the 26-year-old striker, according to a report.
Osimhen is set to return to Naples this summer after a superb season in Turkey on loan with Galatasaray. The Nigeria international propelled the Lions to a league and cup double, scoring 37 goals and providing eight assists in just 41 appearances.
Galatasaray are keen to keep Osimhen in Istanbul but are unable to meet his release clause in Naples, worth €75 million (£64m), despite being to match his exorbitant wage demands.
United hold a long-standing interest in Osimhen but are believed to consider his salary a prohibitive hurdle, despite the Red Devils being able to match his release clause.
A new number nine is an urgent priority at Old Trafford, however, and the options on the market this summer are rapidly dwindling. Liam Delap rebuffed United’s advances in favour of a move to Chelsea while Viktor Gyokeres is prioritising a deal with Arsenal.
But United could be set to also miss out on Osimhen to a Premier League rival as Liverpool have “opened a direct channel with Napoli” to explore different options to sign the Nigerian striker, including a part-exchange using Darwin Nunez or Federico Chiesa, according to TEAMtalk.
“Liverpool have become the latest club to join the race for Victor Osimhen as the Premier League champions are in talks over a swap deal, sources have told TEAMtalk.
“Described as ‘the best striker in the world’ by Nigeria manager Eric Chelle on BBC Sport Africa earlier this week, Osimhen is the subject of interest from a number of clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid”.
The report reveals Liverpool are “exploring different possibilities” with “preliminary talks” taking placed through intermediaries over a “potential swap deal…involving Nunez and Chiesa, two players highly appreciated by Napoli manager Antonio Conte.”
This would constitute a significant blow to United if another domestic rival trumps them to a much-needed frontman. But the formula Liverpool are exploring should, in fact, give hope to the Red Devils, as they can launch their own version of the the same proposal, using Alejandro Garnacho as a makeweight.
Napoli hold serious interest in Garnacho, who was told he can leave Old Trafford this summer by Ruben Amorim after their public dispute following the Europa League final, after trying to sign the Argentinian winger in January.
If United could use the 20-year-old in a part-exchange deal for Osimhen, it would help drive down the price of the striker while freeing up funds to help cover his costly wage packet. And it would come at the expense of a player who has no future under the club’s head coach.
Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
