Real Madrid target Osimhen in major swoop deal

Spanish giants Real Madrid are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as a potential replacement for Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who could be headed for a blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia. 

The European champions are said to be willing to listen to offers for Vinicius as concerns grow over his compatibility with Kylian Mbappe, with club president Florentino Perez reportedly ready to sanction what could become the biggest transfer of all time.

According to Fichajes, Real Madrid’s unexpected 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final first leg has accelerated internal discussions about reshaping their attacking options for next season.

Vinicius, who has netted 104 goals and provided 77 assists in 308 appearances for Los Blancos, has struggled to maintain his stellar form in recent matches, including a particularly disappointing showing against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

The 24-year-old could command an astronomical fee of €300m (£255m) from Saudi Pro League suitors, with reports suggesting he would be offered a five-year contract worth €200m (£170m) per season.

The Spanish champions have identified Osimhen as their preferred target to lead their attacking line should Vinicius depart. The Nigeria international is currently enjoying a prolific loan spell at Turkish champions Galatasaray, where he has notched an impressive 28 goals and five assists in just 32 appearances across all competitions.

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The 26-year-old Osimhen, who remains contracted to Napoli but has been widely expected to secure a permanent move away from the Italian club this summer, could be available for approximately €72m (£62m), a figure that would be easily covered by the potential Vinicius windfall.

Osimhen’s potential arrival at the Bernabeu would likely see Mbappe shift to his preferred left-wing position, creating a formidable new-look attack for the Spanish giants.

However, Real Madrid face stiff competition for the Nigerian striker’s signature, with Manchester United reportedly having submitted an official bid. The Premier League club’s chances of landing Osimhen were recently boosted when Chelsea withdrew from the race, with the London club preferring to pursue other targets such as Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Napoli are understood to be willing to lower their initial €75m asking price for Manchester United to prevent Osimhen from joining Serie A rivals Juventus, who view him as an ideal replacement for Dusan Vlahovic.

Despite Galatasaray’s interest in turning Osimhen’s loan deal into a permanent arrangement following his stellar season that has helped them establish a three-point lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, the striker has previously expressed a preference for moving to the Premier League.

The Nigerian forward joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan after a proposed move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli collapsed last summer. During his time at Napoli, Osimhen scored 76 goals and provided 12 assists in 133 appearances, helping the Italian side win their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022/23 season.