Top Man Utd target told they are ‘on same level’ as Haaland as first five Old Trafford exits are revealed

Joe Williams
Man Utd target Victor Osimhen runs

An Italian journalist has claimed that Man Utd target Victor Osimhen is “on the same level” as Man City superstar Erling Haaland.

Osimhen has been linked with Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window with the Nigeria international valued at around £130m by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

A recent report claimed that the Red Devils have an ‘advantage’ in the race to sign Osimhen after attempting to purchase the player last summer.

Osimhen has contributed 28 goals and four assists in 36 matches in all competitions, helping Napoli to their first Scudetto title in 33 years.

Haaland, in comparison, has bagged 52 goals in 48 matches in all competitions with Man City still in with a shout of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble this term.

And journalist Tom Colomosse claims Man Utd target Osimhen is that good that he is currently operating on the “same level” as Haaland.

Colomosse said (via Napoli Magazine): “Manchester United also need a pure centre-forward up front, and with Haaland in the same city, the need to put a star in the squad has increased. After Haaland, Osimhen is the best and perhaps they are on the same level.

“The problem is the cost, Napoli know how to sell well. I think the will of the player will have an impact. When I interviewed Osimhen, seven days before he got the the trophy, when I asked him about the Premier he dribbled the subject a bit, maybe someone suggested he keep quiet about certain things since there was a Scudetto to win.”

Five players who will not be at Old Trafford beyond the summer are Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, Ethan Galbraith, Ondrej Mastny and Charlie Wellens, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Jones and Tuanzebe ‘are expected to be among the Manchester United players released in the summer’ with both suffering a lot from injuries over the last couple of seasons.

Galbraith is currently on loan at League Two side Salford and ‘has been informed he will be let go at the end of his contract’, while Mastny and Wellens ‘are also likely to be let go after short loans with Portadown and Oldham Athletic’

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag boss revealed last week that players are now “really keen to come” to Old Trafford with the club finding some stability this season.

Ten Hag said: “I see a big difference in comparison with last year. There were a lot of reservations last year when I spoke with players and now many players see the project, what’s going on, the dynamic and the ambition in this project, the quality especially. They are really keen to come, I’ve noticed that.

“It looks like there were a lot of reservations last year, a lot of doubts when we approached players. This year, many quality players really want to come.”

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