Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has reached an agreement with Manchester United over personal terms ahead of a potential summer move, according to Turkish journalist Aygün Özipek.

United are said to be keen on signing a top striker following Rasmus Hojlund’s disappointing turnout this season.

Osimhen, who is contracted to Napoli, has been on fire for his loan club Galatasaray, netting 29 times while registering six assists in only 34 games.

It was learnt that the 26-year-old is open to a move to Old Trafford even without the prospect of Champions League football on offer.

Özipek said United have agreed a five-year deal with Napoli for Osimhen for €60 million.

While Osimhen’s release clause was pegged at €75 million, Napoli were said to be willing to lower it to prevent rivals Juventus from landing the striker.

The journalist further disclosed that the striker will receive €15 million per season in wages, which amounts to €288,461 per week.

“Osimhen signs 5-year deal with Manchester United. A transfer fee of 60 million euros will be paid. The football player will receive a net annual salary of 15 million euros,” Özipek wrote on X.

By Francis Nansak

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Nasarawa State Chapter, have vehemently condemned the recent hooliganism experienced in the Nigerian football space, particularly the unwarranted attacked on Plateau United players by some Nasarawa United fans.

The behavior which resulted to the upright banishment of Nasarawa United players to play their home matches at Pantiamin Stadium in Gombe State and a fine of six million Naira imposed by the League Management Company.

This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Smah George, Chairman of SWAN Nasarawa State Chapter,who described the attack as “uncalled for and needless, especially given that Nasarawa United had already earned the three points needed to improve their league standing.

The Association calls on the Nasarawa State Football Association to take more stringent measures against supporters who do not add value to the game advocating reorientation of fan clubs to prevent such incidents in the future.

According to the statement, “The actions of the home supporters have denied fans the joy of watching Nasarawa United play at home and have incurred additional costs for the state, including travel expenses to Gombe for the remaining season. Moreover, it poses a risk to the safety of players, officials, and fans traveling to away matches urging all well-meaning citizens of Nasarawa State to condemn such behavior” Smah added.

Meanwhile the Association has expressed gratitude to Governor Abdullahi Sule for his motivational gesture of 2.5 million Naira to Nasarawa United after their 3-2 win over Plateau United.

The association also appreciated the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kwanta Yakubu, for their continued support to the team appealing for similar motivation and physical presence be extended to the female team, Nasarawa Amazons.

The Chairman of SWAN, Nasarawa State called on members to use their platforms to sensitize the public, especially fans and supporters, on the rules of the game and the importance of maintaining a civilized and respectful atmosphere. He added that Football has evolved into a scientific and civilized sport, and any form of hooliganism or hate speech must be condemned.

Kylian Mbappe’s pursuit of Champions League glory with Real Madrid faces a daunting test as they seek to overturn a 3-0 quarter-final first-leg deficit against Arsenal on Wednesday. The Gunners stunned the reigning champions in London last week, leaving Madrid needing a comeback of epic proportions at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While a three-goal recovery would be unprecedented for the 15-time winners, Mbappe’s arrival has injected a new wave of hope. The French superstar’s electrifying talent offers Madrid a potent weapon in what appears to be a near-impossible task.
“Of course we can,” Mbappe confidently stated after Arsenal’s emphatic victory at the Emirates.
Arsenal, buoyed by Declan Rice’s two stunning free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s strike in the first leg, will be acutely aware that the tie is far from over. They witnessed firsthand Mbappe’s devastating impact earlier this season when he single-handedly dismantled Premier League champions Manchester City.
In a memorable playoff round clash at the Bernabeu, Mbappe’s hat-trick propelled Madrid to a 6-3 aggregate victory over Pep Guardiola’s side. Despite a recent red card in La Liga against Alaves, which saw him play only 38 minutes, Mbappe is expected to be fresh and eager to make amends with a decisive performance against Arsenal.
His tally of 33 goals in 49 appearances this season mirrors Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive debut year at the club, further highlighting the weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Echoes of Past Glory
Mbappe is no stranger to Champions League drama, having experienced both triumph and heartbreak in the competition. While he couldn’t lift the trophy with Paris Saint-Germain, he was on the receiving end of a spectacular Real Madrid comeback in 2022.
PSG held a 2-0 aggregate lead in the last 16, with Mbappe scoring in both legs. However, a sensational 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu turned the tie on its head, paving the way for Madrid’s eventual triumph.
Mbappe himself relishes these high-stakes encounters. “I’ve been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid, to play for this club and to feel what it’s like on a big night at the Bernabeu,” he said after his hat-trick against City. “A lot of people have told me about it, but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and I hope we’ll have many more.”
Real Madrid boasts a rich history of improbable comebacks in the Champions League. In 2022, they defied the odds to beat Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate after trailing 5-3 in the dying minutes of the semi-final second leg. Their “La Decima”-winning campaign in 2014 saw Sergio Ramos’s dramatic 93rd-minute equalizer against Atletico Madrid force extra time, where Los Blancos ultimately prevailed 4-1. They also famously overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Wolfsburg in 2016, with a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick securing a 3-0 victory in the return leg.
“At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone’s lips,” Ronaldo once remarked, a sentiment echoed throughout the club’s folklore.
The spirit of Juanito, a key figure in Madrid’s successful comebacks in the 1980s, still resonates. His famous warning to Inter Milan – “90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time” – after a 2-0 first-leg loss in the 1985 UEFA Cup semi-finals proved prophetic, as Madrid roared back to win 3-0.
Mbappe’s arrival in Madrid was precisely to write new chapters in this storied history, and Arsenal’s visit presents the perfect stage.
“We have to believe, we have to have confidence,” coach Carlo Ancelotti affirmed last week. “Because sometimes, quite often at the Bernabeu, it happens.”

Mohamed Salah has put an end to months of speculation surrounding his future by penning a new two-year contract with Premier League leaders Liverpool, the club announced on Friday.
The 32-year-old Egyptian forward, who joined the Reds from Roma in 2017, expressed his delight in a club statement, saying, “It’s great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10.”
Salah has etched his name into Liverpool’s history books, having scored an impressive 243 goals in 394 appearances, making him the club’s third-highest scorer of all time. His stellar form has been pivotal in Liverpool’s pursuit of a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title this season.
“Of course I’m very excited. We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies,” Salah added, highlighting his ambition for further success at Anfield.
Under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, Salah has continued to be a driving force, netting 27 goals and providing 17 assists in the Premier League as Liverpool currently sit 11 points clear at the summit with just seven games remaining.
Slot lauded Salah’s impact, stating, “He has shown at this club for so many years in a row how much of a value he is for the club and the team. As like all our fans and his team-mates, we are very happy that he has extended for two more years. Hopefully, he can show on Sunday again (against West Ham) how important he has been for us all season.”
Salah has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent successes, helping the club secure the Champions League title in 2019 and their first league title in 30 years in the 2019/20 season. His trophy cabinet at Anfield also includes the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup, solidifying his status as a Premier League icon.
Individually, Salah’s brilliance has been recognized by his peers and football writers, who have twice voted him as their player of the year. He is widely tipped to receive both accolades for a third time this year.
The news of Salah’s contract extension comes as a welcome boost for Liverpool, who have recently experienced a challenging run of form, losing three of their last four matches across all competitions. This includes their Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, a League Cup final defeat to Newcastle, and the end of their 26-game unbeaten league streak against Fulham. Salah himself has also endured a relatively quiet spell in front of goal.
Despite the recent dip, Liverpool’s strong position in the league has been achieved against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the contracts of several key players, including captain Virgil van Dijk and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose current deals expire at the end of the season. While Van Dijk has indicated progress in his extension talks, Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Salah had previously voiced his frustration with the negotiation process, even suggesting he was “probably more out than in.” However, he has now committed his future to the club, despite reported lucrative interest from the Saudi Pro League.
This new two-year deal provides Salah with the opportunity to further cement his legendary status at Liverpool. He currently sits joint-fifth in the all-time Premier League goalscoring charts with 184 goals, and will be aiming to close the gap on Ian Rush’s club record of 346 goals.