Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Victor Osimhen opens up on Man Utd transfer talk as Napoli chief teases Ten Hag with ballsy admission

Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the goal of 1-0 during the Champions League football match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Napoli

Manchester United have been given fresh belief they can secure the signing of Victor Osimhen this summer after a telling admission from both the player himself and Napoli’s sporting director.

Erik ten Hag’s side are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, with Wout Weghorst’s temporary spell coming to an end. And with a number of potential options being explored, Ten Hag and Co are running the rule over a number of potential options.

Their list appears to be headed up by three men in particular: Harry Kane, Goncalo Ramos and Osimhen.

Of the trio, it is perhaps Ramos who is seen as the most obtainable. Indeed, any move for Kane would surely be fraught with problems. And reports that Daniel Levy is willing to gamble over the England captain’s future does not make for good reading for United.

Osimhen, too, would surely be hard to pluck away from Napoli. Luciano Spalletti’s side are enjoying a spectacular season, soaring within touching distance of the Serie A title. Indeed, they boast an incredible 18 point advantage over nearest challengers Inter Milan. It’s now only a matter of time before their 33-year title drought is over.

In addition, Gli Azzurri are also going great guns in the Europe. They blizted their way through to the Champions League quarter-finals, joining Inter and Milan in the process, following a 5-0 aggregate win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Few sides would want to face them in Friday’s draw for the quarter-finals either.

As a result of their incredible campaign, a number of their players are reportedly being lined up for blockbuster moves away.

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Osimhem opens up on Manchester United transfer links

And Osimhen is perhaps the most in-demand off all Napoli’s stars.

However, any deal for the Nigerian will not come cheap. Having scored an impressive 23 goals in 24 appearances so far, he will likely fetch well in excess of £100m.

Osimhen, himself, though has seemingly opened the door to a possible move. And the 89-goal striker admits talks on his future will be held this summer.

When asked about United’s interest, Osimhen was ruling nothing out when speaking to Sport1: “I don’t know what the future holds. I think I’m on the right track.

“At the end of the season, I will sit down with my agents and discuss everything.

“I will also be in talks with the club. I am incredibly grateful to Napoli. We will find a good solution together.”

If Osimhen wasn’t exactly ruling a move out, United will take further encouragement from the Italian side’s sporting director.

And, in teasing Ten Hag somewhat, Cristiano Giuntoli has intimated Napoli believe in themselves in signing a quality replacement were their star man to leave.

Napoli leave transfer door ajar for Man Utd

“There are other priorities now, the three of them [Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae] are boys who they still have many years of contract. There is no need to talk,” Giuntoli said.

“But we will deepen the discussions in the summer. Football is made up of motivations. We are Napoli.”

Asked if Osimhen could leave, he added: “We were sure we could create a strong team again. And the same thing will happen in the future as well.”

That certainly is not a no for United, though they will need to negotiate with their president Aurelio De Laurentiis. And that makes means United will likely need to pay top price for the 24-year-old if they pursue a deal.

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