Man Utd could have another Ruud van Nistelrooy on their hands with genius £94m summer swoop

He's the big fish, the prize hog, the speedboat at the end of an episode of Bullseye. Victor Osimhen is set to be the most wanted man in Europe this summer, and whoever wins the race for his signature is likely to secure themselves one of global football's next towering superstars. No hyperbole.

For months now, the Napoli striker has been touted as a prospective target for just about any and every continental heavyweight suffering from an obvious deficiency at the point of their attack. Arsenal and Chelsea have been mentioned in recent weeks, as have Spanish giants Real Madrid, among plenty of others besides.

But according to a fresh report from The Independent, Osimhen may end up at none of those clubs. Instead, it is understood that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as the two most foremost challengers for his services. As per this latest update, the Nigerian has a release clause of around £94 million written into his contract in Italy, and as such, that means that he is 'a rare young forward who is available'. It also means that he is too good of an opportunity for United to pass up on.

The Red Devils' centre forward situation does not feel quite as dire as it did towards the back end of last year. Rasmus Hojlund has finally started to repay his own £72 million transfer fee with a hot streak of form, and to that end, a reliable goalscorer is perhaps not the aching necessity it once was.

Beyond Hojlund, however, United are alarmingly short on options. Anthony Martial is fully expected to leave at the end of the current campaign, Marcus Rashford is undoubtedly a winger these days, and aside from that fitful pairing, Erik ten Hag has nobody of note. Depth is needed badly, and Osimhen would represent a stunning alternative to the precocious Dane.

But perhaps more than anything, the Napoli star would also signify a watershed moment in United's recruitment fortunes. This summer promises to be a pivotal one at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally able to influence the Red Devils' transfer policy in a way that he feels is befitting of a club of such magnitude. As such, marquee signings could be the order of the day, and what better way to announce United's return to the top negotiating table than signing a player like Osimhen?

In some respects, it brings to mind the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy, more than two decades ago; the prolific continental marksman available for a hefty fee, the feeling that with him would come a period of transition for United. In the Dutchman's case, that meant rejuvenating the venerated treble winners of 1999 for the cut and thrust of the 21st century, and in Osimhen's it would be to drag the Red Devils out of the doldrums and into the sunshine once again.

There is no doubting that he is capable of doing exactly that. His goal record in Serie A has been stellar, and he has proven himself on the world stage at both Champions League and international levels on numerous occasions. Osimhen, in other words, is a world class talent who would fit the bill for United perfectly. If Ratcliffe wants to set out his stall in the right way, he simply has to sign him.