The future of Manchester United target Victor Osimhen appears to have been decided with his release clause set to lapse today.
With a clear lack of firepower up front, Man United appear to be in dire need of a proven striker this transfer window.
Rasmus Hojlund has constantly underperformed, while the promising Chido Obi is still quite young to have the pressure of leading the line all on his shoulders.
Given this conundrum, United have been linked with a variety of strikers, including Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, and Hugo Ekitike.
Should the latest reports prove correct, United may just be letting one of these stars slip through their fingers.
Building hope
Among the three candidates, Osimhen has emerged as an ideal signing, especially given his proven experience at the summit of European football as well as his relative affordability compared to Gyokeres in particular.
Earlier this month, excitement started to build as it was reported that Osimhen was interested in securing a move to the Premier League.
Still, there have been conflicting reports, with Osimhen reportedly rejecting United in favour of returning to Galatasaray, where he played on loan last season.
No matter which report rings true, the Nigerian’s transfer could prove challenging for United given his financial requirements. Apparently, Osimhen has rejected United’s request to decrease his wage demands.
Now, it appears as if Osimhen’s next club has been chosen.
Transfer incoming
Yesterday, The Peoples Person relayed that Galatasaray improved their official bid for Osimhen at €75m. While the same value of his release clause, the Turkish club decided against it, instead hoping to fit the bill in instalments over the course of five years.
Suddenly, it seems that the club may just opt to trigger his release clause, with the deadline set for today.
“It’s judgment day, the last day of the €75 million release clause in his contract with Napoli. Galatasaray is confident it can complete the deal,” Corriere dello Sport reported this morning.
“I expect the transfer to be finalised within 48 hours,” one of Galatasaray’s vice presidents, Metin Öztürk, stated as per the report.
Still, there is a chance that the Turkish club might not pull the deal off.
“Galatasaray has proposed payment spread over four to five years, and Napoli is waiting for bank guarantees before giving the green light… Bank commitments are needed, along with guarantees to ensure payment,” the article continued. “And they’re needed very quickly: at midnight today, the release clause expires, and Osimhen’s value will no longer be fixed, at no more than €75 million.”
Although the move is not yet guaranteed, United are nowhere to be found, with the club seemingly not looking to fight for Osimhen’s signature.
Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
