By Sabiu Abdullahi
Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has reportedly reached a personal agreement with Manchester United ahead of a possible summer transfer, according to Turkish journalist Serdar Çelikler.
“Victor Osimhen has reached an agreement with Manchester United. But there is also the club side of the matter,” Çelikler said while speaking on a podcast.
Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray, has been in remarkable form this season.
He has scored 29 goals and made six assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
Manchester United are believed to be prioritizing the signing of a top striker, especially with Rasmus Hojlund’s underwhelming performance in the current campaign.
The Danish striker has only scored three Premier League goals, and new manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly keen to offload him at the end of the season.
Although Osimhen is said to have agreed to personal terms with United, negotiations between the English club and Napoli regarding a transfer fee are still underway.
Osimhen’s release clause is reportedly set at €75 million (£63 million), but there are suggestions that Napoli may lower the asking price for United.
Juventus, another long-time admirer of the Nigerian star, remain interested.
However, Napoli are unwilling to strengthen a direct domestic rival, which could give United the advantage in securing his signature.
Reports also indicate that Osimhen is eager to play in the UEFA Champions League next season, making United’s qualification crucial to finalizing the deal.
In case the move fails, United have other options in mind, including Liam Delap and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Earlier, Turkish journalist Ali Naci Küçük revealed that Manchester United had offered Osimhen a weekly wage of £660,000 before tax, which would make him the highest-paid player at the club.
“There is a high possibility that Osimhen will say goodbye (to Galatasaray), but there is no decision made at the moment,” Küçük said. “Juventus and Manchester United clearly want Osimhen. Juventus and Manchester’s offer is a net €20m (£660,000-a-week).”Although Galatasaray would like to keep Osimhen, the club may not be able to meet his financial expectations. He is said to have demanded €15 million in wages from the Turkish side.
“Osimhen’s words do not mean that he will leave,” Galatasaray’s vice-president Ibrahim Hatipoglu said recently.
“He said that Galatasaray will always be in his heart even if he leaves in the worst-case scenario, but he did not say that he would leave. We want him to stay with us.”
When asked about his future, Osimhen responded, “There are always rumours about me, of course. But I prefer to live in the moment. I am enjoying myself right now. I am enjoying both the club and my life here.”
Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan at the beginning of the season. The club is reportedly paying €6 million of his €10–11 million net annual salary, while Napoli covers the remainder.
