Manchester United are reacting to losing out on securing Liam Delap this summer by making a big call about Victor Osimhen that involves Rasmus Højlund.
Manchester United are hunting for new striker signings this summer after the 2024/25 season left the club 15th in the Premier League table and runners-up in the Europa League.
The Old Trafford outfit have been famed for their fierce attacks in the past. However, this season, no player managed to break the 20-goal barrier, with Bruno Fernandes finishing on 19, while Amad and Alejandro Garnacho were next best on 11 apiece.
United will turn to the transfer market this summer to secure fresh goalscoring talent, with Matheus Cunha set to arrive from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million in the coming days as he undergoes his medical.
Meanwhile, Rúben Amorim’s club are also being linked with a host of attacking players to further add to their front line, although tight funds and no Champions League football make attracting top talent a much more challenging feat this summer.
United set to lose out on signing Delap
One player United had spent the early weeks of the summer transfer window targeting was Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, who has a £30 million release clause in his contract.
Although United met with the player last week and agreed on personal terms, the 22-year-old also held talks with Chelsea, Newcastle, and Everton, as he wanted to understand the specifics of any deal he could receive from suitors this summer.
While United were initially confident that Delap would sign for Amorim’s side due to the minutes he would receive as the new first-choice striker, a lack of European football has harmed them, with the player now set to sign for Chelsea this summer.
With the club deeply concerned about their lack of attacking threat, they have been touted as seriously considering a major swoop for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo this summer after missing out on Delap.
United react to Delap miss with Osimhen move
Although signing Mbeumo after missing out on Delap would be a welcome addition, considering his 20 Premier League goals last season, the club still need a new striker to lead the line.
According to the Italian outlet Il Napolista, United’s director of football negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, was recently in Naples to hold a meeting with Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, and club president, Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Amid United missing out on Delap, the main topic of discussion was surrounding the possibility of United signing Victor Osimhen this summer, with the club now “seriously interested” in the Nigerian international.
After falling out with the Napoli board, Osimhen has spent the season on loan at Galatasaray, with the 26-year-old scoring 36 goals in 40 appearances, blowing Højlund’s statistics out of the water.
According to Il Napolista, the Serie A side would be interested in including United’s Danish striker as part of a player-plus-cash offer for Osimhen, as long as United were prepared to add around £33 million to the deal.
With Napoli set to sign Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer this summer, and United willing to let Højlund go this summer for the right price, this may well be a deal worth keeping an eye on.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.