‘Wrong strategy’ gives Man Utd ‘advantage’ for top target as new €160m price tag is revealed

Man Utd have been told they will now have to pay €160m if they want to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer, according to reports.

The Red Devils are still looking for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan brought his time at the club to an end.

Man Utd agreed to terminate his contract at the end of last November with Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, while the Red Devils had to wait until January to bring in a temporary replacement in the form of Burnley striker Wout Weghorst.

And now they have made bringing in a centre-forward their main priority for the summer transfer window with Weghorst unlikely to stay past the end of the season.

Reports earlier this year claimed Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag was ‘sold’ on the idea of bringing in Harry Kane from Tottenham with the England international about to enter the final year of his contract in north London.

But they face gruelling negotiations for Kane with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy understood to be unwilling to sell to Premier League rivals, especially Man Utd.

And another option is Napoli striker Osimhen, who is currently leading the Serie A goalscoring charts this season with 23 goals, but the Red Devils could face competition from Chelsea, Arsenal and a number of other clubs desperate for a proven striker.

A report at the end of April claimed that Man Utd were ‘in pole position’ for the Nigeria international and now Italian publication Il Mattino claim that the Red Devils have an ‘advantage’ over other interested clubs.

By pursuing a deal for Osimhen last August using the ‘wrong strategy’ Man Utd have put themselves ahead of others in the race to sign the 24-year-old.

The Red Devils attempted to sign Osimhen by attempting to include Ronaldo in an offer last year but now Napoli have told the Premier League club that they will demand ‘at least’ €160m for the striker this summer.

Osimhen is also looking to ‘exceed’ €10m a year ‘net salary’ if he leaves Naples and ‘several million bonuses’ an offer that Napoli ‘cannot’ match.

They insist that the sale of Osimhen ‘can cause a domino effect’ of transfers across Europe as the striker ‘scans the horizon thoughtfully’ for the right option.

But Man Utd have already been warned about signing Osimhen for over £100m with former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor claiming Osimhen has “only done it for one season”.

Agbonlahor told Football Insider: “I do like him, but he’s only done it for one season.

“It’s dangerous when you’re going and buying players who have only been outstanding for a short amount of time.

“I can tell you that the Premier League is a much tougher league than Serie A, and Man United will be wary of paying silly money for him.

“Napoli are going to want over £100million for him.

“It’s difficult because so many sides in England need strikers but to get the best ones, it’s going to really dent the finances, it’s an unbelievable sum.”

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