Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is presently in the national team camp ahead of this weekend’s first leg World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off fixture against the Black Stars of Ghana but such has been his scintillating form for Serie A side Napoli that he’s the subject of transfer speculations linking him with four of the biggest teams in the English Premier League.
New-money Newcastle had a bid for the striker rejected by Napoli last January but, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Magpies will make a new bid to sign the 23-year old in the summer but they will now have Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to contend with for Osimhen.
The Nigeria international has scored 15 goals in 25 appearances this season, 11 in 20 Serie A games despite being sidelined for almost eight weeks after sustaining a cheekbone injury at the end of November but he’s scored consistently since returning, plundering four in his last two games heading into the international break.
These impressive performances have caught the eyes of several teams in Europe, with special interests from the Premier League. The authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Newcastle United’s improved bid will be met by Arsenal who are also monitoring Osimhen after failing to capture Dusan Vlahovic who chose Juventus instead.
Tottenham are reportedly resigned to losing Harry Kane in the summer while Manchester United could see the exit of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani so both teams are eager to get Osimhen who moved from Lille to join Napoli for over €70m in 2020 in a five year deal.
Osimhen’s availability will however depend on Napoli’s willingness to sell but the Neapolitans are not in a hurry to do business on their prized goal machine although President Aurelio De Laurentiis could consider offers in the region of €100m.