NIGERIAN ace Victor Osimhen is emerging as a genuine back-up plan if Manchester United’s move for Viktor Gyokeres falls through.
Swede Gyokeres’ relationship with Sporting Lisbon appears to be completely broken down after the Portuguese club attempted to jack up his asking price after agreeing he could leave for £59million.
But while Ruben Amorim wants to be reunited with the former Brighton and Coventry striker, who scored 57 goals in 57 games under him at the Estadio Alvalade, United are also aware of Osimhen’s availability.
The Nigerian spent last term on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, where he was not wanted by Antonio Conte.
Osimhen, 26, bagged 32 goals in 37 appearances for the Istanbul club, who want him to stay but have also seen Saudi clubs including Al-Hilal join a bidding war.
So far, though, no deal has been agreed, with Osimhen seemingly ready to consider all his options – including a potential move to the Premier League.
But the striker’s Galatasaray contract is understood to be worth £300,000 per week after tax, which would equate to around £500,000 weekly in the UK – a figure United cannot afford to pay.
Nevertheless, a move has not been ruled out amid uncertainty over the Gyokeres situation, although no matter who arrives – following the £62m signing of Brazilian Matheus Cunha from Wolves – there will have to be big money departures.
SOLD TRAFFORD?
TALKING of players set to go through the exit doors – and at least United should be able to cash in on two of those felt least likely to have a future under Amorim.
Number crunchers at the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory have unveiled their updated list of the 100 most valuable players in global football.
Top of the rankings, which features Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham in the top three, is Barcelona teenage superstar Lamine Yamal, valued at a staggering £343m.
Prem clubs dominate the list, with 42 of the top 100 making their living in England.
But in a worrying sign of what has gone wrong at Old Trafford over the past decade, the only two United players in the list are unwanted Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho.
Dane Hojlund is 52nd, rated as worth £68m.
Given his struggles to establish himself since his £72m move from Atalanta, United bean counters would snatch the hand off anyone making an offer anywhere near that – although the club needs to take £38m to “break even” on the left-over amortisation costs on his five year contract.
Garnacho is ranked 85th and valued at £54m – a sum which would be “pure profit” in PSR terms if a deal was made.
CLIFFE JUMP
SOME rare good United news off the pitch for Sir Jim Ratcliffe – with the club’s share price bouncing back.
United shares dropped to less than £10 each in the immediate aftermath of the Europa League Final defeat by Spurs, representing a 60 per cent fall from the £26 per share he paid for his total £1.487bn investment last year.
It was a public response to the £100m black hole in income for next season after United’s worst campaign since they were relegated from the top flight in 1974.
That meant the club’s market capitalisation – its value in terms of the share price – had plummeted from the £4.54bn implied by Ratcliffe’s purchases to just £1.72bn.
But the past month has seen a change in fortunes, with the price of shares on the New York Stock Exchange briefly touching a 2025 high of £14.51 each on Monday.
At close of business on Wednesday that price had dropped slightly but the total value of the club has recovered to a fraction under £2.5bn.
Sir Jim will be hoping for a similar recovery on the pitch next term.
IN THE RED
THE Glazer debt is still taking a heavy toll on Old Trafford – as outlined by the latest Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance.
According to the latest figures, while United’s net debt of £482m is significantly less than the £793m owed by Spurs after the building of their new ground it costs Ratcliffe and Ineos far more to service.
United’s debt repayments stood at £61m per year in 2023-24, compared to the £47m cost of meeting Tottenham’s schedule.
Deloitte reported that United’s wage bill in the last full season under Erik ten Hag stood at £365m, below only Manchester City and Liverpool, representing 55 per cent of their £662m revenues.
But the price of past transfer mistakes is crippling, with United losing £186m in “amortisation costs” – the amount of each player’s first contract after being bought divided by its length in that season – while Ineos made a further £159m cash injection.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
TRYING to put a positive spin on Manchester United is not easy – particularly when the Red Devils have a year like last season.
So perhaps it is no surprise that the Red Devils currently have two jobs being advertised for their in house media department at Old Trafford.
They are searching for a director of communications and a media director as they begin preparations for the 2025/26 season.
OH MAN
MANUEL UGARTE might be in line for a ticking off when he returns to Carrington for pre-season training early next month.
The Uruguayan midfielder went early by unveiling United’s new home shirt on his social media pages a few hours before he was meant to.
Perhaps it was due to the time difference being in South America during his time off but plenty of eagle-eyed United fans spotted the mix up.
MAKING HIS MARC
MARCUS RASHFORD is obviously keen to show his admirers he is returning to full fitness after injury wrecked his final few weeks at Aston Villa.
The England forward posted footage of himself doing some warm weather training early this week.
He also uploaded footage of him playing padel – which prompted a couple of cheeky replies from ex team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.
Rashford is aware there is unlikely to be a way back for him at Old Trafford so the clock is ticking for him to find a new club.
It is just over three weeks until United return to training at Carrington and Rashford will be keen to avoid an uncomfortable few days by finding a new club before then.
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