Sources: Nottingham Forest enter 'intense' race to sign superstar

03/28/2025 08:00 AM

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants to compete with Europe’s elite clubs for the signature of Victor Osimhen, sources have told Football Insider.

The superstar striker is set to leave Napoli this summer after spending the current campaign on loan at Galatasaray, and Forest are hopeful Champions League qualification will enable them to secure a marquee signing.

However, with sources stating that Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the Nigerian, the Reds face an uphill battle to beat off the competition and buy Osimhen.

The 26-year-old was at the centre of transfer drama last summer, with failed Deadline Day moves to Al-Ahli and Chelsea resulting in Napoli excluding Osimhen from their squad and loaning him to Galatasaray.

This month, Man City‘s former financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider that Osimhen is on the hunt for a £400,000-a-week contract, potentially putting off the likes of Man United.

Forest, meanwhile, are on the cusp of history this term, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sitting third in the Premier League table with a five-point cushion, and look set to book a place in the Champions League.

Forest face ‘difficult’ Victor Osimhen transfer chase

While the “hugely ambitious” Marinakis wants Forest to become a leading side in England and Europe, reaching the Champions League may not be enough to give them a chance in the race to sign Osimhen.

Osimhen’s Napoli release clause stands at £63million, and added to his hefty wage packet, the Reds are unlikely to be able to compete with Man United, PSG, Arsenal and Liverpool in a financial sense.

The Nigeria number nine’s future will not be at Napoli beyond this summer, but given the sheer level of interest in him from across the continent, Forest are likely to be quite low down in his pick of clubs.

The Tricky Trees have made no secret of their ambition to sign a new striker this summer regardless of Champions League qualification, and that need will be even greater with Chris Wood now 33 years old.

Marinakis to make more realistic Forest transfer approach

While Forest managing to sign Osimhen would send shockwaves throughout all of European football, paying his £63m release clause would likely take up a sizeable chunk of their summer transfer budget.

Forest, therefore, are more likely to look closer to home, and former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that he instead sees Brentford’s Yoane Wissa as an ideal fit.

Wissa, 28, still has plenty of youth on his side compared to Wood and would cost considerably less than Osimhen – Forest were willing to spend £40m on him in January, only to be rebuffed by Brentford.

A Premier League-proven striker like Wissa could be exactly what Forest need to complement Wood, rather than shelling out an eye-watering fee on a player already courted by several more-monied clubs.

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