Sources: Man Utd, Chelsea make final decision on signing of lethal Serie A forward as huge alternative transfer route emerges
Manchester United and Chelsea have cooled their interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after the Italian club placed a £150million price tag on his head, TEAMtalk understands.
Osimhen has been pretty much unstoppable this season, bagging 31 goals in 39 games. That incredible form has helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since Diego Maradona’s time at the club, as well as reach the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Italian rivals AC Milan.
Following Osimhen’s brilliant campaign, it is no surprise top clubs have become interested in snapping him up. United and Chelsea are both in the market for a marquee centre-forward signing this summer and the two Premier League sides have both made enquiries over Osimhen’s availability. They know the Nigerian would be a great addition to their respective attacks.
However, TEAMtalk has been told United and Chelsea are ready to end their interest in Osimhen due to Napoli’s inflated valuation of him.
The Serie A champions have no intention of selling Osimhen as they want to keep him for next season’s title defence and Champions League campaign. This is why they have given him that huge £150m price tag, and the scare tactics seem to have worked exactly as they were intended.
Napoli are under no pressure to sell their star man this summer as his contract runs until June 2025. He is thought to earn in the region of €100,000 (£86k) a week.
United and Chelsea are now seriously exploring moves for alternative targets after conceding defeat in their hunt for the 24-year-old.
While Osimhen will not be landing at either Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge this summer, he could still achieve a big-money move away from Naples.
TEAMtalk understands Real Madrid may yet enter the race for his services as they look for a replacement for club legend Karim Benzema. The 35-year-old will leave Real when his contract expires at the end of June and is likely to head to Saudi Arabia by joining Al Ittihad.
Victor Osimhen discusses future amid Man Utd, Chelsea decisions
DAZN recently quizzed Osimhen on his future. The former Lille man said: “I don’t know, the [club] president has to decide that.
“I love the people of Napoli, they have shown me so much love.
“For me, I don’t mind, the president decides and I will just go with the flow.
“I appreciate the Neapolitans a lot, they deserve this and hopefully we’ll have many more trophies to come.”
Meanwhile, reports in Italy claim Man Utd are on the brink of signing a top player Osimhen knows well.