Here are the two Premier League clubs that were closest to signing Victor Osimhen

The Nigeria international is becoming a phenomenon in Italy following a string of extraordinary displays

English Premier League campaigners Newcastle United and Manchester United are the clubs that have come closest to luring Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

According to reports, Newcastle had an offer of €100 million ready for Osimhen in January, but the deal could not be completed due to several factors.

Man United were also keen in the summer, with the Red Devils negotiating with Napoli directly and through proxies.

Again, Napoli held on to their prized asset when it was clear that United would not be meeting all their demands for the Nigeria international.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich are the other reported admirers of Osimhen.

Napoli fans, in hindsight, will be delighted with the decision to let Osimhen stay in Naples for at least one more year.

Despite spending some time out injured, Victor Osimhen reminds all every week why he is one of the finest young strikers in the game.

Nearly everyone who has criticised the Nigerian youngster in the past has come to admit that the former Lille lad is dripping with unique quality from top to bottom.

Last week, Osimhen scored a spectacular goal against AS Roma that not only made ex-Manchester United defender Chris Smalling look like a rookie but also had other strikers drooling with envy.

On Saturday, Osimhen hit new heights in Naples.

The 23-year-old netted his first hat-trick for Napoli – and indeed for any club he has ever played for – in the 4-0 thrashing of Sassuolo at the Diego Maradona Stadium.

That splendid hat-trick took Osimhen’s goals for the season to seven and catapulted him to the top of the league’s goalscorers chart.

With that performance, Osimhen also becomes Nigeria’s joint-most prolific goalscorer in the Italian Serie A.

The Napoli man shares that honour with former Crotone targetman Simy Nwankwo with 31 goals, having gone past ex-Inter Milan man Obafemi Martins and one-time Lazio hitman Stephen Makinwa.

Still, it is obvious that the Super Eagles forward is nowhere close to the best he can be.

And as Napoli’s manager Luciano Spalletti puts it, Osimhen “can become a top player and, despite everything he is doing, he still has a very large room for improvement.”