Update: Man Utd ‘almost ready’ to take a chance on Osimhen
Following the sudden break-up in the transfer negotiations between Napoli and Victor Osimhen’s new agent, Manchester United have stepped in to make contact for wantaway Nigeria and Lille striker.
Serie A giants Napoli were believed to be on the verge of signing him after agreeing a £46million fee with Lille.
Yet journalist Ciro Venerato claims that United have not given up the race to land Osimhen just yet.
He told CalcioNapoli24: “A few hours ago Manchester United phoned Osimhen’s new agent to find out if he had signed with Napoli.
“If an offer from United comes, there would not be many possibilities because they have an economic power superior to that of Napoli.”
Osimhen has quickly emerged as one of Europe’s top prospects following a breakout season in France.
Napoli had refused to increase the salary already agreed with Osimhen’s previous agent, as the €80m transfer from Lille is back in doubt again.
This is one of those sagas that could go on for most of the summer, as it has already dragged on for weeks.
First Osimhen was unconvinced by the move and felt under pressure from his agent, who had negotiated an excellent commission package for himself.
The Nigerian striker then sacked his representative and brought in a new intermediary, named in the Italian media as William D’Avila.
This resolved Osimhen’s hesitation at accepting Napoli, so intensive negotiations with Lille found a breakthrough earlier this week, with medicals expected on Thursday or Friday.
However, the change of agent created a whole new set of problems, as it’s reported in CalcioNapoli24, Sky Sport Italia, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport and others that D’Avila has promised a massive improvement on the salary negotiated by the previous representative, pledging to get him €5m net plus add-ons.
Napoli, on the other hand, have already signed off on the contract worth €3.5-4m net plus circa €2m in performance-related bonuses and do not intend to change it now.
CalcioNapoli24 even claim that Osimhen’s agent has asked around various Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, to see if they would be interested in entering a bidding war.
Il Mattino newspaper points specifically to Manchester United as trying to ‘tempt’ Osimhen’s new agent.
read also:Osimhen’s agent asks for more time as Spurs re-activate bid with Man Utd, Liverpool
Napoli are increasingly irritated, but still trying to get the deal completed at the figures they had already agreed with the player.
Considering this €80m deal would make him the most expensive player in Napoli’s history, they are looking elsewhere, with Real Madrid prepared to let Luka Jovic go out on loan.
However, if he were to leave Madrid, then Milan would be his preferred destination.