Manchester United have previously had Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on their watchlist and attack is expected to be a key area to improve this summer
Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring for Galatasaray(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Manchester United are reportedly preparing for another club to join the race to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window.
Osimhen is set to be the focus of plenty of transfer attention this summer having seemed destined to leave last year only for a move to fall apart in the final stages of the window. With his options of moving to a top-five league in tatters, Galatasaray managed to capitalise by offering him a season-long escape thanks to the Turkish window closing later than the rest of Europe.
Since switching to Istanbul, Osimhen has continued to hone his goal-scoring talents with 33 goals bagged in just 37 matches. Such form continues to make him a target for a number of Premier League clubs this summer.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been credited with the strongest interest but MEN Sport understands that United did consider Osimhen as a player of interest during Erik ten Hag’s tenure. This summer, the Reds are set to focus on their attack and Rio Ferdinand has already suggested that Osimhen is the man they should target.
It has, up until now, been seen as inevitable that Osimhen will leave Galatasaray for a new club. However, Milliyet Skorer understands that the Turkish giants are not ready to let the Nigerian leave just yet.
The 26-year-old is thought to have impressed the Galatasaray board so much that they are willing to sanction a ‘historic’ offer to try and keep him. It is reported that, as soon as he agrees to staying in Istanbul, Galatasaray would be happy to bid £56m for his services.
Napoli are in a rush to sell Osimhen this summer but whether the striker would be happy to return permanently to Turkey is another matter. Galatasaray look set to qualify for the Champions League but it is unknown whether the lure of Europe’s elite competition alone will be enough to get his signature.
United are currently cash-strapped with the need to sell clear ahead of the summer transfer window opening. However, their finances could receive a huge boost if they win the Europa League.
Ruben Amorim’s men are 3-0 up on aggregate against Athletic Bilbao and should they progress to the final in the Basque Country and beat either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt, they would qualify for next season’s Champions League. If United or Spurs were to win the Europa League, a whopping six English teams would be playing in the Champions League next season.
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