In a bid to cash in on the Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen this summer, Napoli is reportedly open to offers in the region of £85 million as opposed to the original £100 million release clause. This information is based on Calcio Mercato.
According to additional Italian reports, the Serie A team would consent to a player-swap agreement with Manchester United, allowing Mason Greenwood to join the former Serie A winners while Osimhen would go the other way.
Manchester United are keen to sell Greenwood in the summer, even though the rape charges against him were dropped last year. The 22-year-old winger did well on a loan at Spanish La Liga side Getafe, winning the club’s Player of The Season award, and has been linked with several clubs, including Juventus, Lazio, and Napoli.
Manchester United may consider including Greenwood in a part-exchange deal due to their interest in signing Osimhen, as Napoli’s Sporting Director Giovanni Manna is believed to have a good impression of Greenwood.
Osimhen is desperate to play in the Premier League, but despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and United, no club appears ready to trigger his £100m release clause.
For Napoli to agree to Osimhen’s switch to the Premier League, the Italian giants may have to desist from their rigid stance on the release clause. Getting the cash plus the Greenwood offer may be beneficial to both parties.
As reported by La Repubblica, citing Spazio Napoli, the Red Devils may initiate a significant exchange with Aurelio De Laurentiis’ club.
Below is the newspaper’s detailed analysis, translated from Italian to English using Google Translate.
“Napoli wouldn’t mind a technical counterpart to lower the “cash” and make a high-level capital gain. It’s no mystery that sporting director Giovanni Manna likes Mason Greenwood. The crystal-clear striker has relaunched himself at Getafe after the accusations of domestic violence and rape that had obviously slowed his rise at Old Trafford.
“Both Juventus and Lazio are following him; he represents an opportunity. United have decided not to continue with him despite the accusations of having been withdrawn by his girlfriend (with whom he later got back together; the couple had a child), and the contract expiring in 2025 requires an immediate transfer. The English side’s moves will be closely monitored; it’s probably Osimhen’s last chance to perform in the Premier League.”
