The two English Premier League giants have attacking issues despite spending big in the summer
It will be almost impossible for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli for any club in Italy or abroad during the January transfer window.
This is the position of Italian transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano in a YouTube chat with the United Stand in response to growing rumours that United could return for Osimhen in another four months.
Transfer guru Romano opines that Napoli would not make Osimhen, the club’s most valuable player, available for transfer midway through what is shaping up to be an interesting campaign.
The Neapolitans sit clear at the top of the Serie A table after beating AC Milan 2-1 at the San Siro on Sunday in Osimhen’s absence.
Luciano Spalletti’s men are also the clear leader of their UEFA Champions League group following convincing victories over Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers.
With the league and continental honours to chase in the second half of the season, it would be unthinkable for Napoli to sell arguably their most important player in January.
And as Fabrizio Romano puts it, “Victor Osimhen, I think he will never be available in January.
“He’s such an important player, and they [Napoli] are doing great in Serie A. So I don’t see them selling.”
"Victor Osimhen, I think he will never be available in January. He's such an important player, and they [Napoli] are doing great in Serie A. So I don't see them selling." [@FabrizioRomano, United Stand YT] #mufc
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) September 19, 2022
Transfer interest in Osimhen
That would not be good news to several major European clubs with Osimhen on their radar.
Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea were credited with an interest in the Nigerian attacker in the summer.
But Chelsea ended up signing former Arsenal man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang while Man United paid heavily to secure Brazil’s Antony from Ajax.
It has still not produced the desired effect in attack for both clubs.
Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz are the only attacking players to have scored for the Blues in the EPL this term.
At United, there has been just one goal scored between new boy Antony, veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo, and Frenchman Anthony Martial.
Before surrendering to his latest injury, Osimhen had grabbed two goals and one assist in five Serie A games.
The 23-year-old striker is also in the third year of the five-year contract he signed when joining Napoli from Lille in 2020.