Victor Osimhen is another name that can be scratched off Manchester United’s transfer shopping list.
Manchester United started the summer transfer window being snubbed by Liam Delap, and now Viktor Gyokeres is close to joining Arsenal.
Victor Osimhen would have been a great signing for Ineos to solve United’s striker search, but the 26-year-old is now in talks to re-join Galatasaray.
Galatasaray have bid for Osimhen and remain in talks with Napoli to finalise an agreement. Instead of trying to hijack the deal, it seems United will look elsewhere this summer.
Why Man United are not trying to sign Victor Osimhen
Despite Osimhen being attracted to United and keen to move to the Premier League this summer, Ineos have chosen to walk away from the Nigerian striker, who is valued at £63.5m.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano explained why on his YouTube channel:
“Many questions around Victor Osimhen and Manchester United. I always told you, during the summer transfer window, for Man United that deal was not advancing for one reason.
“Victor Osimhen never wanted to reduce his salary request despite what Manchester United and other English clubs wanted to do.
“For Osimhen, that was never the case and Osimhen has always been very happy at Galatasaray. Galatasaray now have an agreement on the contract for Osimhen until 2028.”
Osimhen will earn £340,000 per week at Galatasaray – a salary that United were never going to offer.
Ineos have been trying to regain control over United’s wage bill and a deal for Osimhen would have broken the structure completely.
Ineos are refusing to break Man United’s wage structure
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it very clear over the past 12 months that United are not in the best financial health.
Ticket rises, job cuts and cost-cutting methods have been a regular talking point over the last year as Ineos try to make United a financially sustainable club following years of mismanagement.
Ineos are finding it hard to sell players this summer, and one of the main reasons is that several players are on bloated big-money contracts handed out by the Glazers.
The only way to counteract that is to implement a strict wage structure and Ineos are refusing to break that this summer even for a talent as impressive as Osimhen.
Whether that is a sensible decision or something they will regret? Time will tell.
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