Napoli will demand £150million for their star striker Victor Osimhen this summer, according to reports, with Manchester United and Chelsea chasing his signature.
Osimhen is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe and has turned heads with his clinical displays that have seen him net 25 goals for the Naples outfit and helped them go 19 points clear at the top of Serie A.
Napoli are braced for a flood of offers for the 24-year-old at the end of the season after his dazzling campaign – and have geared up for the interest by slapping a huge price tag on the Nigerian, according to Il Mattino.
The Italian outfit are under no pressure to sell their prized asset – who is under contract until 2025 – with president Aurelio De Laurentiis not interested in sitting down with any club who offers a penny short of the £150m asking price.
It adds that Osimhen would be interested in joining United, who have made signing a new striker a priority this summer – but club officials may be put off by the eye-water price Napoli are after.
Erik ten Hag is desperate for more firepower to put his team in touching distance of the likes of Arsenal and Man City – who are the only two sides in the Premier League title race this season.
United are also interested in Harry Kane – but they were already warned that he will set them back £100m this summer, with the Tottenham forward’s contract expiring in 2024.
The Times claimed Spurs would also reject any attempt for United to pay the sum for Kane in instalments as they look to avoid selling to a domestic rival and convince him to sign a new deal – despite the team’s troubling season.
However, he would still remain a cheaper option than Osimhen, with United also keen on RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian star has already agreed a move to Leipzig, but United could still hijack the deal.
Chelsea have also been strongly linked with Osimhen. The Blues have spent a whopping £600m on new players under new owner Todd Boehly this season but are still in need of a reliable goalscorer – with Joao Felix and Kai Havertz struggling to provide a regular supply of goals.
Italian outlet Calciomercato recently reported that the Blues have identified Osimhen as having ‘the right profile’ for the club – and that Boehly was planning to offer them cash plus Christian Pulisic in return.
Speaking this month, Osimhen confirmed he would sit down with his agents to discuss his future at the end of the season.
‘I don’t know what the future holds. I think I’m on the right track,’ said Osimhen.
‘At the end of the season, I will sit down with my agents and discuss everything. I will also be in talks with the club.
‘I am incredibly grateful to Naples. We will find a good solution together,’ he added.
At the start of the month, he put English teams on red alert by revealing his ‘dream’ to test himself in the top flight one day.
‘A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I’m in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.
‘I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day but like I said, it’s a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well.’
