Manchester United have been handed a blow in their pursuit of a new striker with Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis insistent that Serie A champion Victor Osimhen will not be joining the Red Devils.
There was not a more fitting goalscorer than Osimhen; the Nigeria international slamming home the finish which secured Napoli their first Scudetto in 33 years while ensuring that New York may soon have competition for their ‘City That Never Sleeps’ moniker.
Osimhen, in all competitions, has 27 goals across 34 games during a staggering individual campaign. 22 of those have come in Serie A; the former Lille frontman adding a Capocannoniere to his Serie A winners’ medal.
De Laurentiis, meanwhile, is insistent that this is not the culmination of Napoli’s story but merely the beginning. Anyone hoping to raid the Partenopei pantry this summer, he says, will not be in luck.
Manchester United like Napoli striker Victor Osimhen
“Now we must not stop, but continue with our protagonists,” a delighted De Laurentiis tells Rai Sport, while warning potential suitors off star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia too.
“Kvara and Osimhen are not moving.”
According to the Manchester Evening News, Erik ten Hag is already casting his net a little wider. Potentially in the knowledge that Osimhen may be beyond United’s financial reach during a summer which is likely to be hampered by Financial Fair Play concerns.
Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund is one, far more affordable, alternative. He is, furthermore, a die-hard Manchester United fanatic.
“I will not hide that I’m a huge fan,” Hojland admits (MEN).
“So personally, (moving to Old Trafford) would be one of the biggest things for me. But that doesn’t mean that I would turn down other big clubs if the offers come at some point.”
Like Osimhen, fellow striker targets Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Goncalo Ramos (Benfica) are likely to set United back at least £80 million.
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