Manchester United are reportedly hoping to steal a march on Napoli in pursuit of Victor Osimhen, who is set for a £46 million move away from Lille.
While speaking to Calcio Napoli 24, Italian journalist Ciro Venerato has claimed that Manchester United are in the running to sign Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window. The Premier League heavyweights have made a late bid to hijack Napoli’s bid for the 21-year-old striker.
Osimhen joined Lille from RSC Charleroi last summer and has gone on to make an instant impact for the Ligue 1 outfit. With the 2019/20 season done and dusted and Les Dogues not in Europe, the 21-year-old’s final tally for the campaign is a solid 18 goals and 6 assists in 38 appearances.
The player’s progress in his maiden season with Lille has invariably attracted a number of top clubs across Europe. In fact, it has been previously reported that Manchester United and Chelsea were in the hunt for the Nigerian international. The latest to join in his trail are Napoli, who have reportedly been named as the favourites to sign him.
The interest from the Partenopei is pretty straightforward, with Arkadiusz Milik set to leave the club in the summer transfer window. As a result, a vacancy is soon going to open up at San Paolo, one that Osimhen can fill in, if signed.
In fact, Lille General Director Marc Ingla recently suggested that a move was imminent. It has now emerged, though, that Manchester United are interested in signing Osimhen, with Ciro Venerato claiming that the Red Devils are making a last-gasp effort to secure his services.
“A few hours ago Manchester United phoned Osimhen’s new agent to find out if he had signed with Napoli. If an offer from United comes, there would not be many possibilities because they have an economic power superior to that of Napoli.”
Manchester United do seem to be in the market for a striker, as per the reliable James Ducker. The thought process, though, is a bit surprising, considering the kind of progress Anthony Martial has shown since the turn of the year.
With Mason Greenwood already a big part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad and Odion Ighalo being a handy backup option, it is curious to see how another striker, especially one who, like Martial and Greenwood, will be at his peak in a few years, would fit in at Manchester United. Meanwhile, The Sun have claimed that Osimhen would cost around £46 million.
What now remains to be seen is if Manchester United are indeed interested in stealing a march on Napoli for Osimhen. Otherwise, it looks like the 21-year-old Nigerian striker could be on his way to Italy soon.
