Manchester United have received a major positive message from Victor Osimhen as Rúben Amorim continues to search for his new first-choice striker.
Manchester United are looking to strengthen their attack this summer after a disappointing 2024/25 season that ended with a 15th-place finish in the Premier League, largely due to a lack of goals.
Bruno Fernandes was the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, followed by Alejandro Garnacho and Amad who each scored 11. Rasmus Højlund added 10, and no other player hit double figures across all competitions.
The club have already reached an agreement to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and there is increasing belief that a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo will be completed soon.
Even with those additions, United are still in the market for a central striker. Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres is a player they admire, having scored 97 goals in 102 games for the club, including 66 in just 68 appearances under Rúben Amorim.
However, with the Swedish international reportedly leaning toward signing for Arsenal this summer, United are also scouring the market for other options.
Osimhen responds to double United demand
Earlier this week, it was reported that United had informed Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who would be a target if not for his extraordinary wage and contract demands, that they would be willing to negotiate with him if he brought down his desired salary number and was willing to play for the club even without European football.
Previously, it has been reported that United is a dream transfer for Osimhen, who has turned down a major offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in order to remain in Europe.
Amid this, a further report from transfer journalist Graeme Bailey has detailed that, in a positive message to United, these are both asks that the player may be willing to meet.
“We’ve known about United and Osimhen for months, and it is genuine interest. United have known his wage demands and that he is prioritising a move to England for months; he has always wanted a Premier League move,” Bailey told UnitedInFocus.
“I understand after talking with a source close to the player that we can confirm Osimhen is not basing his decision on money, if he were, he would have accepted the Saudi offer.
“He does, however, believe he is one of the best strikers in world football and wants to be paid as such, which doesn’t mean he will be demanding Saudi money from United.
“He knows United are an option and he wants to come to England. Chelsea is not an option; however, I am told not to rule out Liverpool.
“While not being concerned about Champions League football, he is not going to want to come and never play Champions League. United will have sold him the project with Bruno Fernandes staying, Cunha and Mbeumo joining.”
Osimhen might be a risk worth taking for United
While the club have been very strong in their stance that they are not willing to meet Osimhen’s significant demands, if the player is willing to find a compromise, then this could be a risk worth taking on United’s side, too.
United are looking to sign a new striker this summer who has experience and proven goal-scoring ability, and there are fewer, if any, on the market who fit this role better than Osimhen.
He is one of the best strikers in the world, and although United will want to reduce their wage book, there will come a point where United must also be part of a compromise to pay Osimhen premium wages for a premium player.
If the two parties can come to a compromise on salary, there is little doubt that adding Osimhen to a front line with Cunha and Mbeumo would completely transform United’s attack.
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