Al-Hilal submit “formal offer” to Victor Osimhen as Man United’s window to strike narrows | OneFootball

Manchester United’s window to revisit a pursuit of Victor Osimhen is rapidly closing after Al-Hilal submitted an official proposal to the Nigerian international worth a staggering £25 million a year, according to a journalist.

The Red Devils are on the hunt for a striker capable of leading the line at Old Trafford this summer after the club’s worst season in the Premier League era. Ruben Amorim’s side finished 15th in the table with multiple (unwanted) records broken in terms of position, points, losses, and goals scored.

A new number nine is considered an urgent priority after Amorim identified the misfiring forward line as the fundamental weakness in his team. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined for just seven league goals between them, despite totalling over £100 million in transfer fees across successive summer windows.

United had made advances to sign Liam Delap after identifying the 22-year-old striker as their first-choice target due to his £30 million relegation clause with Ipswich. But he rebuffed this interest in favour of a switch to Stamford Bridge.

The Reds hold a long-standing interest in Osimhen, 26, after considering an approach to sign the forward in 2023, though they eventually settled on Hojlund as the Dane was considered more cost-effective.

But United may now return to try and strike a deal for Osimhen with the Nigerian’s contract with Napoli containing a release clause worth around £65 million this summer for clubs outside of Italy.

Old Trafford officials are said to be potentially re-evaluating Osimhen as a target in the wake of Delap’s rejection despite the 26-year-old’s wages being seen as “prohibitive”.

There’s no doubt the goal-scoring prowess Osimhen offers however, as well as the outstanding physical attributes and unrelenting work-rate he brings to the table – all attributes Amorim prioritises in his number nine.

There is a growing sense, after the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, that United’s creative hub – comprising Cunha, Amad, and Bruno Fernandes mainly – is one of the stronger areas of the team. The fact that Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo may be added to this cohort only heightens this.

But these players would be best complimented by a powerful frontman – a ‘bull in a china shop’, but in the best possible way – leading the line ahead of them. And, in Osimhen, there are few better candidates in European football, at an age just as he is about to enter his peak as a footballer.

Yet the financial reality of a deal remains difficult. There is a reason many clubs across the continent have considered him as an option, only to not follow up their interest in spite of a relatively favourable release clause in Naples.

And it’s this reason why a move to the Saudi Pro League appears imminent despite suggestions from figures close to the Nigerian football team that Osimhen wants to play for a top club in Europe.

Ben Jacobs, a reporter with excellent contacts in Saudi Arabia, reveals Al-Hilal have tabled a “formal offer” to Osimhen’s camp worth “around €30m-per-season with bonuses on top”, equating to a yearly wage in excess of £25 million, far beyond anything a European club will offer.

Tweet: “Understand Al-Hilal have now made a formal offer to Victor Osimhen worth around €30m-per-season with bonuses on top. As revealed in April, Osimhen a key target ahead of the Club World Cup. One to watch in the next few days.”

Al-Hilal are also ready to trigger the release clause to Napoli to complete the signing after reports suggesting they would not match this figure. But the Saudi side are demanding an answer by June 10, when the first portion of the summer transfer window closes, ahead of the Club World Cup on June 14.

If Osimhen accepts the proposal from the Middle East, it will cause a ripple effect in Manchester as the Red Devils miss out on yet another key target for the number nine position.

Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images

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