Key Manchester United target Victor Osimhen is playing a waiting game until his €75m release clause expires and he could be available more cheaply, according to reports in Italy.
The clause in the Nigerian’s contract only applies to clubs outside of Italy and expires in mid-July, frustrating any hopes of wrapping up a quick deal but making a more affordable one more likely.
Although on the other hand the risk is that with no clause to be triggered Napoli could dig their heels in and ask for more or, with the player having several known suitors, a bidding war could ensue.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the player is not taking this pessimistic view and is actively waiting because “he hopes that once the clause expires the price will drop”.
However, Napoli have the option to extend his contract – currently due to expire in 2026 – by a further 12 months which would likely ratchet the price right back up again.
There seems to be no discussion of the 26-year-old staying on in Naples, so any contractual wrangling would be purely with a view to the club getting as much money as possible for the player while keeping him away from their direct rivals.
Fellow Serie A giants Juventus are very keen, but Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined not to strengthen a potential title contender, and “hopes to find a foreign club that will settle the bill and satisfy the Nigerian”.
The report suggests that Osimhen’s decision to wait is encouraging to Juventus, but notes that if another club comes along in the meantime, or if the Turin side fail to sell Dusan Vlahovic, his future could like beyond Serie A.
Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray where he was as prolific as ever, scoring 37 goals in 41 games and supplying eight assists.
He would be an ideal striker to drop into Ruben Amorim’s goal-starved squad, with the experience and mentality to hit the ground running and drag the Red Devils up by their bootstraps.
Even amongst Premier League clubs United do not have a clear run at the player, however, with Liverpool reportedly entering talks for him and Chelsea long holding an interest.
Osimhen declined a gigantic offer from Saudi side Al-Hilal earlier this summer which boosted hopes for prospective employers across Europe.
Ultimately, however, it feels like a long-running saga with the end not yet in sight for either the player or United.
Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
