Why Man United must pay €100M for Osimhen
The 23-year-old Nigerian is one of the most exciting and dangerous forwards in Serie A, comfortable acting as a focal point in Luciano Spalletti’s side.
Manchester United have recently been linked with Super Eagles and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and there’s a reason why Napoli want €100m for him.
The 23-year-old Nigerian is one of the most exciting and dangerous forwards in Serie A, comfortable acting as a focal point in Luciano Spalletti’s side.
He is a clinical striker, having netted seven league goals from 7.3 expected goals this campaign, and he’s a proven goalscorer.
Other statistics highlight why Osimhen is such a dangerous player.
He averages 7.25 touches of the ball in the opponent’s penalty area per 90 minutes, which suggests that he often is in the right position and takes regular close-range shots.
His shooting stats back this up, as he averages 4.12 shots per 90 minutes this campaign.
The Eagles’ forward is also adept at getting his teammates involved in the play, creating 2.60 shot-creating actions per 90 and 4.12 progressive carries per 90.
These numbers underline how Osimhen is a creative and electric forward who has a keen eye for goal and quick feet in the penalty area.
Contracted to Napoli until 2025, he is one of the core figures in Spalletti’s squad and the club are not keen to lose him, so this is why Manchester United would need to pay €100m if they want to secure his signature in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Ralf Rangnick is interested in signing Osimhen amid doubts over the futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Rangnick has been told to provide CEO Richard Arnold with a shortlist of potential replacements for Ronaldo and Cavani, who are both expected to leave Old Trafford in the summer.
Osimhen has been on Rangnick's radar, but United have told Napoli to forget about holding them to ransom, after the Italian giants valued him at £100million.
Napoli chairman Aurelio De Larentiis spent a club-record fee of £70m when signing Osimhen from Lille in 2020.
It made him the most expensive African player in history, and De Laurentiis is not prepared to allow Osimhen to leave on the cheap.
Osimhen, 23, has scored 17 goals in 40 league appearances for Napoli, but United have made it clear they are not prepared to meet the Italians' price demands.
