Manchester United Trapped by Financial Fair Play in Pursuit of Osimhen
Manchester United fans are no strangers to blockbuster transfer sagas, but this summer’s chase for Victor Osimhen has a twist—one that could see the departure of a homegrown hero or the team’s captain. Sources close to the negotiations say United simply cannot bring in the Nigerian striker unless they offload either Marcus Rashford or Bruno Fernandes. The culprit? UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules snapping even at the giants of English football.
UEFA’s FFP regulations insist clubs must not spend wildly beyond their means. They can only go big in the market if any big outlay is first balanced by selling other assets. With Osimhen’s price tag expected to hover north of £100 million (Napoli never let top attackers go cheaply), United find themselves squeezed from all angles. Rashford and Fernandes, two of the highest earners at Old Trafford, are the logical, if painful, solutions.
Insiders claim Osimhen has already settled on personal terms with United. He wants the move, and United’s hierarchy see him as the sort of number nine who could finally solve the post-Ronaldo search for a reliable striker. But Napoli’s tough negotiating stance isn’t the only hurdle. The math just doesn’t work unless there’s a major outgoing star. The choice for United’s board is brutal: cash in on Rashford, whose form has dipped after a career-best season, or let Fernandes, the heart of the midfield and current captain, go in order to straight-up fund the transfer.
This is not a flash in the pan issue. Ever since the new owners arrived at United, they’ve tried to drill home a ‘squad rebalancing’ approach after years of expensive missteps. The current transfer strategy isn’t just about plugging holes with world-class talent, but also about rigidly following FFP rules to avoid sanctions. The wage bill needs trimming, and player sales are a more realistic way to raise money than snapping up another sleeve sponsor. There’s also little appetite for selling off squad players who might raise only a fraction of Osimhen’s fee.
The stakes are further complicated by Napoli’s demands. The Italian side is famous for sticking to their guns and not letting star forwards walk away for less than top dollar. With Osimhen—who netted 26 goals in Serie A last season and carried Napoli to long-awaited glory—they can easily command a sum that shatters United’s current net spend. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has a reputation for tough negotiating tactics. He’ll expect United to match his asking price. Unless United clear the decks, there won’t be room at the inn—or in the budget.
Big Decisions Loom for Old Trafford Hierarchy
For United, the problem is more than just moving around numbers in a spreadsheet. Rashford, an academy graduate, and Fernandes, a fan-favorite leader, both have deep ties to the fanbase. Cutting one loose to plug financial gaps and chase another big-money forward is bound to cause ripples in the dressing room and among supporters. There’s also the practical risk: do you remove the local icon whose face is everywhere in Manchester, or the creative heartbeat who wears the armband?
United’s cautious approach mirrors what happened last summer across Europe, where FFP led to a flurry of high-profile sales (Chelsea’s own spending spree comes to mind, offset by clearing out several senior names). If the negotiations play out as expected, United's squad could look very different next season—either spearheaded by Victor Osimhen, with one of Rashford or Fernandes shipped out, or business as usual with neither deal done.
For now, the world watches as United wrangle with an uncomfortable reality: to get their number nine, something’s got to give. The board faces make-or-break decisions that could shape the club for years to come. For supporters, it’s a nail-biting waiting game as two icons are dangled on the transfer market to unlock the club’s next big striker signing.