Rio Ferdinand urges Man United to pursue Osimhen deal

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has urged the club to consider a loan move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Frustrated by United’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, which saw them field Kobbie Mainoo as a makeshift striker, Ferdinand believes the club needs a proven goalscorer. “I 100 per cent agree with you. I completely agree. A natural number nine. Victor Osimhen, I would have gone with Osimhen on loan. Get him on loan now!” Ferdinand said on his YouTube show. Ferdinand believes Osimhen, who has scored 17 goals in 21 appearances for Galatasaray this season, would provide a much-needed goalscoring threat. “He guarantees you someone who can get on the end of things, scores goals, experienced, done it at the top level,” he added. Ferdinand expressed disappointment with the impact of Rasmus Hojlund, stating, “I’ve watched Hojlund closely the last two games… it just doesn’t add up. I’d be going to get Osimhen now if we can do it from a financial standpoint. Get him on loan now!” Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, meaning any potential move would require negotiations with both clubs. Galatasaray do not want to let Osimhen leave and want to sign him on a permanent deal. The final call would come down to Napoli who hold all the cards in transfer negotiations fr the Nigeria international. Despite the challenges, Ferdinand believes a loan move for Osimhen could be a game-changer for United, who are currently struggling to maintain their position in the Premier League.

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Rashford completes Aston Villa loan move

Marcus Rashford has joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old forward had also been linked with moves to AC Milan and Barcelona this month after falling out of favour at his boyhood club. Rashford, who joined United at the age of seven, has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since breaking into the first team in 2016 but has not played since December 12. A statement read: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. “The England international, capped 60 times by the Three Lions, joins Villa on a deal until the end of the season.” The PA news agency understands Villa will cover at least 75 per cent of Rashford’s £300,000-plus weekly salary. That figure could reach up to 90 per cent depending on performance-based bonuses and the option to make the move permanent is reported to be £40million. Villa have also secured an option to buy the player in the summer. Rashford’s future has dominated the headlines throughout the transfer window having admitted he was “ready for a new challenge” after being dropped for the derby against Manchester City on December 15. It now seems his appearance against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League three days earlier could turn out to be his last for United. Rashford failed to impress new United manager Ruben Amorim, who said this week the forward “has to change” to have a future at Old Trafford. Rashford said in a statement on Instagram: “I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen. “I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions. I just want to play football and am excited to get started. “I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season.”

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Solskjaer named Besiktas new coach

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been named new coach of Besiktas. The former Manchester United manager has been out of football since his sacking in December 2021. Solskjaer said at his presentation: “It’s great to be here. “It’s very nice to see so many people who care about this fantastic football club. “I’ve had a very nice first meeting with the members of the board. “I’m really looking forward to this – it’s fantastic to be in this beautiful city.” Besiktas axed Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month. The Black Eagles currently sit sixth in the Super Lig table.

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Galatasaray coach calm amid Man Utd talk for Osimhen

Galatasaray coach Buruk Okan expects Victor Osimhen to see out the season. Osimhen is on-loan at Gala from Napoli, which have been approached by Manchester United in recent days for the Nigeria striker. But Okan said: “Osimhen intends to stay here until the end of the season. “He also wants to stay and has been telling me the same thing since the beginning. There is a clause, but it doesn’t matter, he said he will stay. “The important thing is the player, it is the player who decides and Osimhen says he will stay here. He said the same thing when he came.”

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Man Utd to offer £36.5m star plus cash for Osimhen

Man Utd will offer Joshua Zirkzee plus cash to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen instead of pursuing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports. The Red Devils appointed Ruben Amorim as their new manager on November 1 with the Portuguese coach officially taking over his new side on November 11 after completing his duties as Sporting Lisbon boss. Amorim replaces Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman had a nightmare start to the new season at the helm after INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe put their faith in him over the summer. Ten Hag was sacked with the Red Devils winning just three of their first nine Premier League matches before interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy added another four points to their tally in his two league fixtures in charge. Amorim has a big job on his hands to turn around their fortunes with Man Utd currently languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table. And one of their biggest problems has been in front of goal with only Southampton, Crystal Palace and Everton scoring fewer goals than Man Utd (12) this season. Speculation has been building of a potential move for Sporting striker Gyokeres but that looks increasingly unlikely in the January transfer window. And now Ruleta Sport‘s transfer expert Gerardo Fasano insists that Man Utd will offer Zirkzee – who joined from Bologna in the summer for £36.5m – plus cash in exchange for Osimhen. Osimhen, who was previously called the “best striker in the world” at headers by Carlo Ancelotti, has been on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli during the first half of the season and has contributed eight goals and three assists in nine appearances in all competitions. And Fasano has revealed interest from Man Utd: “Manchester United are said to be on the trail of Victor Osimhen. I have been told that the English club, through Mr Amorim, could include the former Bologna striker Zirkzee in the negotiations for Osimhen. “Amorim has understood that Sporting Lisbon could ask too much for Gyokeres and is testing the waters for Osimhen. Zirkzee might not be the ideal striker for the coach.”

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