Man Utd learn of potential £38m transfer boost in pursuit 134-goal striker as '95 per cent' claim made

Manchester United have reportedly received a boost in their pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, with reports from Italy providing the latest update on the player’s future in Serie A.

The Red Devils are understood to be scouring the market for a centre forward to turn their fortunes around after a dismal 2024/25 season, which looks set to be the club’s worst league finish since their relegation in 1974.

The Old Trafford side are desperate to once again establish themselves as a force in English football and are keen to sign a proven goal-scorer that can help take the pressure away from Rasmus Hoijlund and Joshua Zirkzee who have both struggled to live up to expectations this term. Osimhen has been heavily linked with a host of English clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea throughout recent transfer windows, but United are also in the running.

Man Utd could move for Victor Osimhen

Reports in Italy from Napoli Magazine claim Osimhen has with “95 per cent” certainty played his final game for Napoli. That update comes amid a report from Fabrizio Romano via GiveMeSport that Osimhen is set to have a release clause of just £62m come July. That will only become active if a deal to leave Napoli is not agreed before the end of June. However, if he is still a Napoli player come the start of July, his release clause will drop from £100m down to £62m - a reduction of £38m. The update comes as a boost to United who are not flush with transfer funds and will likely need to sell players this summer before they can buy.

Osimhen, who is currently out on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey, has long been regarded as one of the most formidable forwards in European football. The forward has scored 20 times in 25 appearances for the Istanbul based outfit and despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia is believed to be seeking a move to English football.

What could Victor Osimhen offer Man Utd?

Nigerian international Victor Osimhen started his professional career at VFL Wolfsburg after signing a three-year contract at the Volkswagen Arena when he was just 19-years-old.He made 16 appearances throughout his time in North Western Germany, but caught the eye out on loan in Belgian by scoring 16 times in 36 appearances for Royal Charleroi.

This form earned him a move to Lille where he continued to build a reputation for himself with an impressive 18 goals in 38 appearances in his sole season at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Osimhen’s electric pace, strength and appetite for goals caught the attention of Napoli, who beat the Red Devils and Chelsea to his signature in 2020 to make him the most expensive African footballer at the time, according to ESPN.

The 26-year-old has scored an incredible 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli and was a catalyst for the team which won the Serie A title in 2022/23 - marking the side’s first title since 1990.

Osimhen has scored a combined total of 134 career goals in 248 games at club level and also boasts a record of 21 goals in 35 games for Nigeria at international level, making him the nation’s second highest goalscorer of all time.

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