Man Utd files: Victor Osimhen is shock Plan B to Viktor Gyokeres transfer but huge wages will cause major dilemma

The Irish Sun

13-06-2025

NIGERIAN ace Victor Osimhen is emerging as a genuine back-up plan if Manchester United's move for Viktor Gyokeres falls through.
Swede
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Man Utd will consider a move for Victor Osimhen if they can't sign Viktor Gyokeres
Credit: Getty
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Gyokeres is United's No1 target
Credit: Getty
But while
The Nigerian
Osimhen, 26, bagged 32 goals in 37 appearances for the Istanbul club, who want him to stay but have also seen Saudi clubs including Al-Hilal join a bidding war.
So far, though, no deal has been agreed, with Osimhen seemingly ready to consider all his options - including a potential move to the Premier League.
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But the striker's Galatasaray contract is understood to be worth £300,000 per week after tax, which would equate to around £500,000 weekly in the UK - a figure United cannot afford to pay.
Nevertheless, a move has not been ruled out amid uncertainty over the Gyokeres situation, although no matter who arrives - following
SOLD TRAFFORD?
TALKING of players set to go through the exit doors - and at least United should be able to cash in on two of those felt least likely to have a future under Amorim.
Number crunchers at the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory have unveiled their updated list of the 100 most valuable players in global football.
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Top of the rankings, which features
Prem clubs dominate the list, with 42 of the top 100 making their living in England.
Liverpool's £100m Barcola bid / Gyokeres forces Man Utd move / Grealish City axe | Transfers Exposed
But in a worrying sign of what has gone wrong at Old Trafford over the past decade, the only two United players in the list are unwanted
Dane Hojlund is 52nd, rated as worth £68m.
Given his struggles to establish himself since his
Garnacho is ranked 85th and valued at £54m - a sum which would be 'pure profit' in PSR terms if a deal was made.
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Rasmus Hojlund is rated as worth £68m
Credit: Getty
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Alejandro Garnacho is set to leave Man Utd this summer
Credit: Getty
CLIFFE JUMP
SOME rare good United news off the pitch for
United shares dropped to less than £10 each in the immediate aftermath of the
It was a public response to
That meant the club's market capitalisation - its value in terms of the share price - had plummeted from the £4.54bn implied by Ratcliffe's purchases to just £1.72bn.
But the past month has seen a change in fortunes, with the price of shares on the New York Stock Exchange briefly touching a 2025 high of £14.51 each on Monday.
At close of business on Wednesday that price had dropped slightly but the total value of the club has recovered to a fraction under £2.5bn.
Sir Jim will be hoping for a similar recovery on the pitch next term.
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Man Utd's share price has bounced back - three weeks on from the club's Europa League final defeat
Credit: Alamy
IN THE RED
THE Glazer debt is still taking a heavy toll on Old Trafford - as outlined by the latest Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance.
According to the latest figures, while United's net debt of £482m is significantly less than the £793m owed by
United's debt repayments stood at £61m per year in 2023-24, compared to the £47m cost of meeting Tottenham's schedule.
Deloitte reported that United's wage bill in the last full season under
But the price of past transfer mistakes is crippling, with United losing £186m in 'amortisation costs' - the amount of each player's first contract after being bought divided by its length in that season - while Ineos made a further £159m cash injection.
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The Glazer debt is still taking a heavy toll on Old Trafford
Credit: AFP
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
TRYING to put a positive spin on Manchester United is not easy – particularly when the Red Devils have a year like last season.
So perhaps it is no surprise that the Red Devils currently have two jobs being advertised for their in house media department at Old Trafford.
They are searching for a director of communications and a media director as they begin preparations for the 2025/26 season.
OH MAN
MANUEL UGARTE might be in line for a ticking off when he returns to Carrington for pre-season training early next month.
The Uruguayan midfielder went early by unveiling
Perhaps it was due to the time difference being in South America during his time off but plenty of eagle-eyed United fans spotted the mix up.
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Manuel Ugarte leaked the new United kit early
Credit: Getty
MAKING HIS MARC
MARCUS RASHFORD is obviously keen to show his admirers he is returning to full fitness after injury wrecked his final few weeks at
The
He also uploaded footage of him playing padel – which prompted a couple of cheeky replies from ex team-mates
Rashford is aware there is unlikely to be a way back for him at Old Trafford so the clock is ticking for him to find a new club.
It is just over three weeks until United return to training at Carrington and Rashford will be keen to avoid an uncomfortable few days by finding a new club before then.
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Marcus Rashford is keen to find a new club before pre-season
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