Paris Saint-Germain are set to rival Manchester United in their attempts to sign a central striker this summer as they prepare to allow Lionel Messi leave at the end of his contract.
Both clubs are eyeing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen with United sending scouts to watch the Nigerian in their Champions League quarter final clash against Milan. The 24-year-old is highly regard by United transfer chiefs and he heads the club’s striking shortlist.
Mirror Football exclusively reported that PSG are no longer prioritising a new deal for Messi, who is out of contract this summer. Barcelona will attempt to sign the Argentine superstar this summer but the Catalan club’s well-documented financial issues, coupled with Messi’s desire to remain in Europe, may see negotiations with PSG resumed in the summer.
As things stand, Messi will leave PSG while the club will also listen to offers for Neymar this summer. Those developments eradicate their Financial Fair Play concerns and instead will allow them to spend big this summer in transfer fees to transform their frontline.
A report from RMC Sport outlines how Osimhen is at the top of their wish-list, as is the case at United. Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt are also both being tracked – as is the case for Erik ten Hag’s side. It appears both will now be in direct competition for star strikers in the upcoming transfer window.
Osimhen spoke last month that it would be his “dream” to play in the Premier League as links with him moving to Old Trafford intensified. The striker’s form has been a key reason for the club being 17 points clear at the top of the Italian top-flight.
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The 24-year-old has formed a formidable attacking understanding with Georgian attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The two have forged a devastating partnership with Osimhen’s incredible movement in the penalty area and deadly finishing in front of goal particularly valued.
Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus, whom Ten Hag coached at Ajax, are also under consideration at United, while the club have approached Atalanta regarding their interest in striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Osimhen said in March of his Premier League hopes: "I think playing in one of the top five leagues in the world is an amazing feeling for me. A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I'm in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.
"I'm working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League someday but as I said, it's a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well."
