Man Utd handed boost as one of only two clubs Victor Osimhen is 'interested' in
Victor Osimhen is only interested in joining Manchester United or Real Madrid, according to Napoli legend Salvatore Bagni.
Osimhen, 24, is one of the most sought after strikers in European football after scoring 31 goals and providing five assists for Napoli last season. The Nigeria international found the net 26 times in the league to fire Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Osimhen is expected to stay at Napoli this summer due to the club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis wanting €150million (£129m) for his prized asset. The player's agent Roberto Calenda has even met with De Laurentiis to discuss a new contract.
But nothing has been signed yet. Osimhen has just two years left on his existing deal and wants a hefty pay rise to reflect his reputation as a world-class striker. If those talks break down, De Laurentiis could decide to cash in on the superstar this summer.
If Osimhen does leave Napoli in the coming weeks, Bagni believes the forward will reject Liverpool and Chelsea because he wants to play Champions League football. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League last season, as Chelsea placed seven spots lower.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Bagni, who won a league and cup double with Napoli in 1987, also thinks Osimhen will reject Paris Saint-Germain because he has already proven himself in Ligue 1. "Osimhen won’t return to France because he already played there," Bagni told Tutto Napoli.
Erik ten Hag is after a new striker (PA)Do you think Victor Osimhen will leave Napoli this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
"He doesn’t go to Liverpool or Chelsea because they do not play in the Champions League. Of all the teams associated with him, for me, he would only go to Manchester United and Real Madrid. He’s not interested in the other teams."
United are on the hunt for a new striker after allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the club by mutual consent in November. The Portugal captain, who struggled for minutes under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
United signed Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley in January as a temporary replacement for Ronaldo, but he has since returned to his parent club after failing to score in 17 Premier League appearances. Weghorst did find the net twice in other competitions.
Osimhen scored 18 goals for Lille during his one season in France before Napoli paid €80m (£68.8m) to bring him to Italy in July 2020. He is Napoli's record signing and has improved since that transfer, which is why De Laurentiis is demanding €150m.
Osimhen has scored 59 goals in 101 games for Napoli, with many of those coming last term. The U17 World Cup winner is also prolific at international level, scoring 17 goals in 25 senior games for Nigeria - including a brace in their recent win against Sierra Leone.
It's believed PSG offered €120m (£103.2m) for Osimhen, but Napoli said no. "I will not sell Victor Osimhen this summer, no way," said De Laurentiis when asked last month.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
