Pundit warns Man Utd against move for £133m star in one-season wonder claim

Gabby Agbonlahor says Manchester United will be “wary” of paying more than £100m for Victor Osimhen as the Nigeria international has “only done it for one season”.

Osimhen, who moved to Napoli from Lille for £70m in the summer of 2020, has been in stunning form this term for the runaway Serie A leaders, who will claim their first Scudetto for 33 years with victory over Udinese on Thursday.

The 24-year-old has scored 26 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions, sparking great interest from some of the biggest and wealthiest clubs in Europe.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Osimhen as both clubs look to sign a new No.9 but could be ‘blown out of the water’ by Paris Saint-Germain, who are said to be preparing a ‘jaw-dropping £133m bid’, according to Football Insider.

And Agbonlahor, speaking to the same outlet claims that price tag should be reason for United to steer clear.

The former Aston Villa star is concerned that Osimhen has failed to break the 20-goal barrier in each of his first four full seasons in professional football with Charleroi, Lille and Napoli.

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.”

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs revealed earlier this month that Osimhen has “one eye on” a move to Man Utd as he “dreams” of playing in the Premier League.

Jacobs told TEAMtalk: “Manchester United are still very much looking for that traditional number nine and everybody is getting excited about whether it’s going to be Kane or Osimhen, but both are incredibly difficult to pull off.

“Napoli won’t want to sell Osimhen, but he’s been there long enough now that a deal could well be possible.

“I think people forget as well that when Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille, the number they paid all in was €80million and €70million of that was up front. But it’s kind of complicated by the fact that it was part cash, part players, but Napoli are looking at the overall value of that deal and basically doubling it, which is where if you take that base fee, the valuation of cash plus players €70million and double that.

“140 to 150 million euros is the ballpark because they feel like he’s more than doubled his value since coming to the club. So that’s the difference between him and Kvara who they pay peanuts for.

“When you sign a player and invest a big fee, which is what Napoli did, they want a financial return if they’re to let the player go. But Osimhen dreams of the Premier League. And I think Manchester United is more likely than Chelsea at this point because Osimhen’s always had one eye on Manchester United.

“He actually nearly joined them before moving to Napoli, but didn’t because he wasn’t convinced he’d get the game time.”

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