Manchester United are weighing up a move for Nigerian international Victor Osimhen and plan to use Joshua Zirkzee to help bring the forward to the club.
At one point, Osimhen was at the top of the list for the most in-demand strikers on the planet, with multiple Premier League giants shortlisting the forward in the transfer market. United were not the first club to be interested in signing him; in fact, Chelsea almost got a deal over the line for the Nigerian last summer.
Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in making signings in this window, having already signed Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million. More signings are planned for the squad, with names like Bryan Mbeumo also said to be set to join the squad at Old Trafford.
This United side needs backup and firepower this summer, with Osimhen one name who could potentially help lead the line at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Target’s Napoli Return Unwelcome
After such an uncertain transfer window last summer, Victor Osimhen became somewhat of a black sheep in Naples. With the Nigerian pushing for a move, the club reluctantly agreed, but at the last minute of negotiations with Chelsea, they fell through on the deadline day. His eagerness to leave left him facing a season without football, with Napoli promising he would not feature. Turkish side Galatasaray saved him from that future, agreeing to a loan move for the campaign with a window that opened later than the rest of Europe.
Now that the season has been completed, the striker is facing a return to Italy, one which may not be welcome after his antics last summer. Saudi Arabia had returned with a boisterous package for the world-class striker once more, but Al Hilal found themselves rejected by the star once more, something which appears to have set Manchester United on alert, according to Italian outlet Gazzetta.
Joshua Zirkzee’s Lifeline Away from Manchester United
The signing of Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee seemed promising, but the 24-year-old failed to reach double digits for goals and assists in all competitions for the Red Devils this past season. Despite a disappointing tally, you can not take away the importance of some of his goals, like his strike against Lyon in a 2-2 draw with the French club or an equaliser against Real Sociedad in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Europa League.
The same report of the United interest in Osimhen stated that the club could potentially use Zirkzee as leverage to attract the Nigerian to Old Trafford. It was Italy that the Dutch forward made his name with Bologna, and a return could help him get his career back on track. United and Napoli have been linked with business frequently recently, one case being Scott McTominay, who had a stellar season in Naples. Using players to enhance deals would be key to this United side, who need a large overhaul in their squad and will struggle to bring players in without Champions League football.
Selling Bruno Fernandes in a record bid to Saudi Arabia would have helped this summer, but the Portuguese midfielder turned down the move. Attracting a name of Osimhen’s calibre would be huge for a United side that has just endured its worst season and will be without any continental football next season. Turning down offers from Al Hilal shows that the Nigerian feels he is more than capable of being in Europe’s top leagues, and his recent exploits in Turkey back up his thoughts.