Manchester United is considering a surprise move for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen if their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres fails, though the Napoli loanee’s massive wages present a financial hurdle.
Gyokeres, 26, had a £59 million release clause, but Sporting reportedly raised their demands after his 57-goal season under manager Ruben Amorim. With talks stalled, United has turned attention to Osimhen, who scored 32 goals in 37 games for Galatasaray last season. However, his post-tax £300,000 weekly salary, roughly £500,000 pre-tax in England—could scupper any deal due to United’s financial constraints.
Fire Sale Needed
United must offload players to fund any major signing, with Rasmus Højlund (£68m valuation) and Alejandro Garnacho (£54m) among their few saleable assets, per CIES Football Observatory. Højlund’s £72m 2023 signing has underwhelmed, while Garnacho’s departure would count as pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Off-Pield Glimmers
Despite on-field struggles, United’s NYSE shares rebounded to a 2025 high of £14.51 this week, lifting the club’s market value to nearly £2.5 billion. But debt remains a burden: Deloitte’s report shows United paid £61m in annual debt servicing, with a £365m wage bill (55% of revenue) and £186m in player amortization costs.
Behind the Scenes
The club is hiring a communications director and media director after last season’s turmoil, while midfielder Manuel Ugarte accidentally leaked United’s new home kit early on social media.
As the Gyokeres saga drags on, Osimhen’s arrival hinges on United’s ability to navigate financial and squad challenges ahead of the new campaign.
