Man Utd, Chelsea ridiculed with PSG eyeing two Ten Hag striker targets as Kylian Mbappe replacements; moves could surpass £250m
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in two top-class strikers as they prepare for life without Kylian Mbappe, while Manchester United and Chelsea have been told they have no chance of affording one goalscorer.
There looks set to be a striker domino this summer as several attackers are ready to swap clubs. And the domino could be started by France captain Mbappe.
He has publicly revealed he will not be activating the option to extend his PSG contract from 2024 to 2025. And with a new deal looking unlikely, PSG could well be forced to sell their best player in the coming weeks.
Real Madrid had previously decided on Mbappe as their priority signing for the 2024 summer window, when he will be available on a free. But they could now bring those plans forward by 12 months as they do not want to miss out on the 24-year-old to any other major European side.
As Mbappe will likely cost Madrid €200m (£170m), PSG will have money to burn when it comes to finding his replacement(s).
According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (as cited by Football Italia), PSG chiefs have decided on Napoli star Victor Osimhen as their ultimate successor to Mbappe up front.
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That comes after the Nigerian registered 31 goals in 39 games for Napoli, helping them to win their first Serie A title in 33 years and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Man Utd and Chelsea have previously looked into transforming their striker ranks with Osimhen’s capture. But Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has inadvertently trashed the two Premier League clubs by stating it is only PSG who have the finances to pay for him.
Man Utd, Chelsea ‘cannot afford’ Victor Osimhen – club chief
“Osimhen? The only club that could afford him is PSG. So, if Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants to spend €200m, we wait and then evaluate. Personally I think he’ll stay,” De Laurentiis told Sport Mediaset.
Osimhen is not the only striker who might head to the French capital this summer. The Independent report that PSG are ‘leading the race’ for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.
He has adapted brilliantly to life in Germany, netting 23 goals in 46 games during his debut season there.
Man Utd have previously identified Kolo Muani as a target, but it now looks like he will be joining PSG instead.
Frankfurt have slapped a €100m (£85m) price tag on the Frenchman, so if PSG want to pair him with Osimhen then they will have to spend a whopping £255m.
If PSG miss out on either Osimhen or Kolo Muani, then they could pursue Juventus attacker Dusan Vlahovic instead. He has been placed on their shortlist as a backup option.
Man Utd would have loved to have signed either Osimhen or Kolo Muani, but they will simply be too expensive. The Red Devils could still get a lethal forward through the door though as they are in pole position to snare Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.
Man Utd have already had a £30m bid for Hojlund rejected by Atalanta and are now ready to return with an improved £50m offer. Recent reports have suggested Erik ten Hag’s side could send either Amad Diallo or Mason Greenwood on loan to the Italian outfit to help sweeten the deal for them.
Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in Hojlund as well, but he would prefer a switch to Old Trafford as he is a self-confessed Man Utd supporter.
Hojlund, Osimhen and Kolo Muani are far from the only strikers who will secure big transfers this summer, as Harry Kane could also be on the move. Bayern have turned away from Osimhen and Kolo Muani and are now prioritising a swoop for the England captain.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has revealed Manchester City are ‘close’ to signing a player from Man Utd in a shock move.