Napoli slams heavy price tag on Osimhen amidst Manchester United’s interest

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Following the interest that Manchester United have shown in having Nigeria’s in-form striker, Victor Osimhen, Napoli have indicated willingness to sell the star player if the club  wins the Serie A.

With the Serie A at midway to conclusion, Osimhen has been the arrowhead that has seen Napoli taking a comfortable lead and having  12 points ahead of second-placed AC Millan.

Winning the Serie A is not the only condition attached to the salle of Osimhen to the Premier League side,  Manchester United will need to fork out €120million for the striker’s signature.

Osimhen is on a shortlist of three world-class forwards that the resurging Manchester United are looking forward to. The others are Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Goncalo Ramos of Benfica.

If Manchester United succeded in getting Osimhen, the striker will be the third ever Nigerian to feature for the club.

Before him were Odion Ighalo who was a surprise signing on the last day of 2020 January transfer window and Remi Moses, a defensive midfielder in the 1980s.

Moses played for West Bromwich Albion under Ron Atkinson in the late 1970s and moved to Manchester United in 1981, making his debut for the Red Devils on September 19, 1981 against Swansea City.

He was such a good player that he was nearly capped for England in 1985 before a career-threatening injury ruled him out and was later to miss almost the entire 1985-86 season.

As Manchester United  prepare for significant off-season investment Erik ten Hag’s team is all out for  for a high profile striker that will likely take up a huge portion of the summer budget.

The preferred option, according to Manchester Evening News is Osimhen  following his impressive haul of 13 goals in 15 Serie A appearances to put Napoli 12 points clear at the top of the table and on course for a first scudetto since 1990.

And according to Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio Luciano Spalletti’s side may be more open to selling their star, should they go all the way.

But United will likely face competition from a number of Europe’s top clubs come summer and could be forced into a bidding war.