Manchester United are reportedly exploring a summer transfer for a highly-rated striker as an alternative to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen Transfer Race Heats Up
Reports indicate that Victor Osimhen has a release clause of approximately £62m in his Napoli contract, becoming active this summer, intensifying competition for the Nigerian forward.
Manchester United are known to be interested in Osimhen, having reportedly made a verbal contract offer. However, they may be trailing behind Arsenal in the pursuit, with claims suggesting the Gunners have taken the lead.
It appears Arsenal are progressing well in their attempt to sign the 26-year-old, with reports suggesting they have agreed a £62m deal and informed Napoli of their willingness to pay the release clause.
Consequently, Manchester United may need to focus on other options. A report from GiveMeSport suggests they might pursue FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa as a more attainable target.
While Ruben Amorim is keen to strengthen his attack this summer and is exploring striker options, acquiring the Porto player could be expensive.
Aghehowa reportedly has an £84m release clause in his Porto contract, which could pose a challenge for Manchester United if Porto insists on the full amount.
Osimhen remains Amorim’s primary target, but a move for the 20-year-old Aghehowa could become a serious possibility if Porto is open to a lower transfer fee.
Aghehowa: “Outstanding” and Poised to be a Top Striker
Despite his young age, Samu Aghehowa has the potential to become a leading striker, according to praise from journalist Josh Bunting.
Aghehowa has been in impressive form for Porto this season, scoring 14 league goals and six goals in nine Europa League matches, suggesting he could be ready for a high-profile move to the Premier League.
However, securing Aghehowa this summer could be difficult for Manchester United if Porto demands the full release clause, especially considering the club’s financial constraints recently highlighted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
If Manchester United can successfully sell some high-earning players this summer, they might have more flexibility in the transfer market. However, given their financial situation, spending £84m on Aghehowa seems unlikely.
Vihaan Mehrotra