Man United Eye Nigerian’s Osimhen Amid Ronaldo ‘Expected’ Departure

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a move for sought-after Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen amid reports of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s departure from Old Trafford in January.

Osimhen, 23, is the top scorer in Serie A and has plundered nine goals in 13 games this season for Napoli, who are top of the Italian league.

Nigeria international Osimhen is a club-record signing and contracted to Napoli until 2025 but the Neapolitans will come under pressure to sell if he enters the last two years of his contract.

There is already a growing clamor among the United fanbase to sign a forward in the January transfer window but the club’s preference is to start the next phase of their rebuild in the summer.

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It would be nigh-on impossible to extract Osimhen mid-season as Napoli are unbeaten and eight points clear, having also topped their Champions League group. Napoli’s only titles remain the two won under the influence of Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990.

Napoli finally sold Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer to Chelsea for £33million yet he was valued in excess of £100m three years ago. Their most expensive departures have been strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani.

Osimhen appeals to United as he has thrived in two of the major European leagues, having played in Ligue 1 with Lille prior to his €80m transfer to Napoli in 2020.

Ronaldo on the other hand has had a tough time since his return from Juventus and in recent weeks, he has gone from being banished from the squad to being captain in just two weeks, it has been a whirlwind period for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The United forward was axed from the squad for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last month, but has started every game since, both in the Premier League and the Europa League. Those four starts, however, have seen him score just one goal.

He is no longer offering United the guarantee of goals he once did, meaning his Old Trafford career is now on the decline.