Manchester United cannot be ruled out of being able to bring Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen to Old Trafford next summer, with Erik ten Hag’s side searching for another forward, according to journalist Carlo Garganese.

The 23-year-old is currently resting up ahead of the second half of the campaign, due to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

What’s the latest on Osimhen?

According to the Express back in August, Manchester United could have to pay up to £85m to secure the services of Osimhen next summer, with the club now looking for potential long-term replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract was terminated earlier this week.

Napoli paid almost £83m for the striker’s services when they signed him for Lille back in the summer of 2020, and the forward has undoubtedly produced for the Serie A club, scoring 38 goals and producing 12 assists in 76 appearances for the side, according toTransfermarkt.

Ten Hag will be hoping that the United hierarchy are willing to splash out on a striker for the Old Trafford side next summer, with the club currently only possessing Anthony Martial who is a regular at playing in a centre-forward role.

And Garganese can see the United making a big money move for Osimhen, who has been previously been described as “phenomenal” by Walter Mazzari, though he does rule out the possibility of a January move.

Garganese told GIVEMESPORT: “He [Osimhen] was definitely on their shortlist again going into the summer but Napoli made it pretty clear straight away that they weren’t interested in selling him.

“They lost a lot of players this summer Napoli, massive renewal, it’s gone incredibly well for them. And he was one that they wanted to be part of the next project.

“So, January absolutely not, no chance, zero chance, but next summer, I wouldn’t rule it out.

“I wouldn’t rule it out because Aurelio De Laurentiis has shown that he is the absolute master.

“Napoli’s president is the absolute master at selling one of his big stars for huge, huge money and then somehow finding replacements that are not even that well known and they go on to develop into the big stars themselves.”