Al-Hilal move ahead of Manchester United in race for Osimhen’s signature

Victor Osimhen is edging closer to a sensational switch to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal taking the lead in the race to sign the Nigerian striker.

Despite interest from Manchester United, it is the Riyadh-based club that has stepped up negotiations and offered the Galatasaray loanee a lucrative package that may seal the deal.

Manchester United may have had Osimhen on their radar, but it appears they never made a concrete move ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old striker, on loan from Napoli, is having the season of his life at Galatasaray, scoring 36 goals and delivering 8 assists in 40 appearances.

He has been central to their Süper Lig title win as well as their Turkish Cup triumph, scoring a brace in the final of the latter.

While Manchester United reportedly had Osimhen on a shortlist that also featured Liam Delap, Moïse Kean, and Victor Gyökeres, the lack of communication from Old Trafford has left the striker disillusioned.

Worse still, Manchester United’s 1-0 Europa League final loss to Tottenham crushed their hopes of Champions League qualification.

That failure not only cost them a title, but also essential revenue. Without the financial boost of playing in Europe, matching Osimhen’s €75 million release clause, plus his reported €12 million annual salary, has become a tall order, especially with other targets like Matheus Cunha on the table.

Al-Hilal, on the other hand, are wasting no time. The Saudi giants have reportedly opened talks with Osimhen and are making fast progress.

According to reports in Italy, Al Hilal have put forward a highly attractive offer, and with Osimhen having ruled out a return to Napoli and Manchester United hesitating, Al-Hilal now have a clear path to make the Galatasaray star their marquee signing.