Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a cut-price £40 million swoop for Victor Osimhen – far below the figure the Nigerian striker was expected to command this summer.
Osimhen, 26, is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli after the Serie A side agreed a hastily-arranged move to the Turkey at the end of the summer window when a suitable offer failed to materialise for their number nine.
Since arriving in Istanbul, Osimhen has propelled The Lions to a commanding lead in the Süper Lig with Galatasaray five points clear off their nearest challenger, Fenerbahce.
The 26-year-old has scored an impressive 29 goals and provided four assists in just 34 games for his adopted side, demonstrating a ruthlessness in the opposition box which Old Trafford has been starved of this season.
The fact the Red Devils’ striking partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have combined for just 15 goals in all competitions illustrates both the fundamental issue head coach Ruben Amorim has endured this campaign, as well as the level Osimhen is operating at by comparison.
A new number nine is essential for United this summer with Osimhen, who Napoli are keen to sell when his loan ends at Galatasaray, the perfect candidate to lead the line for the Portuguese coach.
However, the financial reality of a move for the Nigerian international, with an exorbitant wage packet and a release clause in Naples worth in the region of £65 million, had previously appeared to have been too costly for United to pursue.
But, as relayed by The Peoples Person this week, fresh reports from Turkey now contend the Red Devils have “agreed personal terms” with Osimhen’s representatives, suggesting the striker may have compromised on his initial salary demands.
And now, the Daily Mirror contends, United have received a lightning bolt to their pursuit of Osimhen with Napoli reportedly open to accepting a reduced fee, given the Italian club risk losing the 26-year-old on a free transfer next year.
The report states, “Osimhen is heading into the last year of his contract with Napoli” which means Old Trafford executives are now “confident they can land the Nigeria international for a fee considerably lower than his market value.”
As such, United are said to now be “pushing ahead with a £40million deal” for Osimhen with Amorim having identified him as the club’s “top striker transfer target this summer.”
Previous reports had suggested United had identified Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap as their first-choice option, given his favourable release clause should the Tractor Boys be relegated, believed to be worth just £30 million. But Amorim is “understood to favour a move for Osimhen, given his greater experience and proven ability to score in Europe.”
United are also pressing ahead with a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha, with widespread agreement at the club that the Brazilian international is the perfect option as a number ten in Amorim’s system.
Cunha’s contract at Molineux contains a £62.5 million release clause, which United are exploring paying, even though it poses financial issues. But there is scope for a different payment structure than the usual upfront payment associated with release clause, as Wolves are open to this approach.
If, and this remains a big if, United could add Cunha and Osimhen for a combined fee totalling just over £100 million, it would constitute a dramatic upgrade on the forward line with not one but two proven goal-scorers arriving at Old Trafford in the summer.
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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.
