- Manchester United are reportedly getting serious about their pursuit of Osimhen
- But they must stump up Hojlund and a fee – and face competition from Saudi
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is Ruben Amorim too honest?
Manchester United are reportedly talking to Napoli about an earth-shattering swap involving Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund – plus a substantial fee.
Osimhen is one of Europe’s most wanted men and United have flown out one of their transfer kingpins to try and steer Osimhen away from their rivals and Saudi Arabia.
United have reportedly sent recruitment planner Matt Hargreaves to sweet talk Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis and sporting director Giovanni Manna.
Napoli are willing to let United have their prize if they are ready to hand over Hojlund and around £33.5million, according to local outlet Il Napolista.
Osimhen is due to return to Naples in the coming days, having spent the year on loan at Galatasaray, where he has added 36 goals and a league title to his portfolio.
Napoli lifted the Serie A title without him this weekend under Antonio Conte – just two years after he fired them to the Scudetto with 31 goals in all competitions.
Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Napoli over a swap deal for Victor Osimhen (pictured on loan at Galatasaray this season)
Napoli reportedly want Rasmus Hojlund plus a fee of £33.5million to make the deal work
Ruben Amorim hopes to improve his side after a worst-ever 15th-place Premier League finish
On paper, the deal looks something of a steal.
Osimhen, 26, has now spent seven seasons as a prolific striker in Belgium, France, Italy, and Turkey.
In 2023, for his brilliance in firing Napoli to their first title in 33 years, he was named the eighth-best footballer in the world in the Ballon d’Or vote.
The former African Footballer of the Year has enjoyed his best season to date, putting sides around Turkey and Europe to the sword in a scintillating loan stint.
It means he has now smashed in 74 goals in the last three seasons – more than twice as many as Hojlund, who has 36.
Hojlund has struggled this season and has only scored three times for United this calendar year, with Roy Keane claiming he looks like he has ‘just come out of the academy’.
However, United will have to get their elbows out to pull off such a catch and there is no guarantee that Osimhen would want to move to Old Trafford, which has just witnessed its most catastrophic season in the Premier League.
Indeed, Sky Sports reported a few days ago that Osimhen is in advanced talks with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
Osimhen is fresh from lifting the Turkish title with Galatasaray, where he has scored 36 goals
In 2023 he fired Napoli to a historic Serie A title, their first after an agonising 33-year wait
The Nigerian has long been linked with multiple Premier League clubs, including United, Chelsea, and Arsenal – who Mikel Arteta has admitted need a ‘goal threat’. Juventus and Barcelona have also been viewed as possible destinations.
He appeared to come close to joining Chelsea on deadline day last summer but that fell through and he was susbsequently excluded from the Napoli squad by Antonio Conte, who brought in Romelu Lukaku.
But it is believed Osimhen could net as much as £15m per year on a three-season deal if he moves to the Middle East.
While Al -Hilal are confident they will get the deal over the line, Osimhen’s move will not be finalised until the club receive the necessary funds from the Saudi government to sign their man.
Saudi’s Ministry of Sports have not yet given the green light to release these funds, without which a deal would be impossible.
However, Al-Hilal are not worried about this, and their club president has reportedly even received verbal confirmation of Osimhen’s desire to join.
