Man Utd signing £100m striker would be 'absolutely insane' at Old Trafford

Manchester United are unlikely to complete a transfer for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen until next summer at the earliest, with the forward likely to cost close to £100 million, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

United spent big over the past few months as Erik ten Hag stamped his authority on the Red Devils ahead of the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

According to reports in Italy, United were looking to negotiate a player-plus-cash deal for Osimhen late in the transfer window, in a move that would have seen Cristiano Ronaldo head to Napoli.

Manchester Evening News had also reported that Napoli had previously held discussions with Jorge Mendes over a potential move for the Portuguese legend, hinting that they could have been open to a deal.

However, Napoli were still demanding over £120 million, as well as Ronaldo’s wages covered, for a season-long loan.

Lucciano Spalletti, the Serie A side’s manager, had been adamant his star man would not be leaving the club this summer, saying that the 23-year-old ‘wanted to play Champions League football’.

In the end, United were made to do without, while Ronaldo will also remain at Old Trafford until January at least, despite telling the Red Devils of his desire to leave.

Jones says that a move for the player in the next transfer window is also unlikely, given the amount it would cost the club.

The transfer insider says that it would be a crazy amount to spend mid-season considering over £200 million has been splashed this summer.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “You’re talking close to £100 million again. United have already spent a quarter of a billion pounds, pretty much, in this transfer window. So that’d be an absolutely insane level of spending if they were to also do that