Why Premier League Clubs Haven't Signed Victor Osimhen Yet: Andy Cole Weighs In

Despite links to numerous Premier League clubs, Victor Osimhen has never completed a transfer to England. Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole shed light on this unusual situation in an interview with GOAL, especially since teams like Chelsea and Man Utd have been frequently linked with the Nigerian forward.

Osimhen’s European Career Path

Osimhen began his European journey at Wolfsburg before making an impact during a loan spell at Charleroi in Belgium. His breakthrough came with Lille in France during the 2019-20 season, leading to a high-profile move to Napoli. At Napoli, he scored 31 goals in the 2022-23 Serie A season, helping the club secure the league title. His performances attracted regular interest from Premier League giants such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea.

Currently, Osimhen plays for Galatasaray in Turkey, where his goal-scoring prowess continues with 65 goals in 78 appearances, maintaining remarkable individual form.

Would Osimhen Suit the Premier League?

The 27-year-old possesses attributes like speed, strength, and clinical finishing that suggest he could thrive in English football. Speaking about this, Andy Cole said,

“He does. He scores goals. He scored goals in Italy and he’s scoring goals in Turkey as well. But, you know, it depends. There’s many different factors in signing a player from a respective country. It’s not all about just the salary or the transfer fee. There could be many different things that go on. If he does come to the Premier League, which I think he will be very good in the Premier League, you never know who he’ll go to.”

Calls for Manchester United to Pursue Osimhen

Several ex-Manchester United players have urged the club to sign Osimhen. Patrice Evra recently told GOAL,

“A striker, someone who scores a goal. I think that’s what I’m looking at. That’s why for me, Osimhen is the best. He’s a perfect example.”

Louis Saha, former France international and Manchester United striker, also praised Osimhen’s qualities, saying,

“I really like Victor Osimhen. He’s definitely got the character, he’s got the quality. He’s also got good European pedigree: he was a success in France, he was a champion in Italy with Napoli and he’s gone to Turkey with Galatasaray and been brilliant, a move that he probably didn’t want, let’s be honest. He’s scored goals at every level. He’s got Champions League experience, and furthermore, he’s got the type of personality and charisma that this United squad could really benefit from. I think he would be a transformational signing for Manchester United. If you think about the pressure that he was under at Napoli, firing the club to its first title in 33 years, then he’s the perfect man to lead the line for Manchester United. I think he would have a huge impact at United. I would love to see the club hierarchy move for him, I think he is exactly what we need.”

Current Situation and Future Prospects

Despite the endorsements from former stars like Evra, Saha, and Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United has yet to act decisively, focusing instead on players like Benjamin Sesko as their main striker. Osimhen’s supposed interest might resurface, while other Premier League teams, including reigning champions Arsenal, could revisit their pursuit of this proven striker during upcoming transfer windows.