Victor Osimhen: Premier League's Next Big Striker?
Victor Osimhen has spent years being linked with the Premier League. The noise around him is not going away.
From Wolfsburg to Charleroi, from Lille to Napoli and now Galatasaray, the Nigerian striker has built a career on relentless progression and ruthless finishing. The numbers back it up. He exploded in France with Lille in 2019-20, earned a marquee move to Napoli and then fired his way into club history by helping deliver the Serie A title, scoring 31 times across the 2022-23 campaign.
That kind of output does not go unnoticed in England.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been credited with serious interest in Osimhen over the past few years, monitoring a forward whose blend of pace, power and penalty-box instinct screams “Premier League-ready”. He has taken that same profile to Turkey, where his time at Galatasaray has produced 65 goals in 78 appearances – elite numbers in any league, under any pressure.
For Andrew Cole, a man who knows Old Trafford’s No.9 shirt better than most, the appeal is obvious. Asked by GOAL, in association with Unibet, whether Osimhen has the tools to thrive in England, the 1999 Treble winner did not hesitate: “He does. He scores goals. He scored goals in Italy and he's scoring goals in Turkey as well.”
Cole did not dress it up as a simple deal, though. Transfers at this level rarely are. “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.”
That last line will make United fans twitch. They have heard this story before: a world-class striker on the market, the club in need, and rivals circling.
Inside Old Trafford, the conversation keeps returning to the same problem. United need a reliable, ruthless No.9. Several of the club’s former stars are convinced the solution is staring them in the face.
Patrice Evra, speaking to GOAL, stripped the debate back to basics when asked what United are missing: “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.”
No talk of systems. No complex tactical caveats. Just goals.
Louis Saha, another ex-United forward who understands the scrutiny that comes with leading the line at Old Trafford, has also thrown his weight firmly behind a move for the Nigeria international. His admiration is clear: “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.”
Saha’s focus is not only on the finishing. He points to the personality, the edge, the presence – the things that can change the mood of a dressing room as much as a scoreline.
“He’s scored goals at every level. He’s got Champions League experience, and further more, 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.”
That Napoli title run is central to the argument. Osimhen did not just score; he carried expectation for a club desperate to relive its glory days. He became the focal point of a city, handled the weight, and delivered. United’s former forwards look at that and see a blueprint for Old Trafford.
The question now is not whether Victor Osimhen can handle the Premier League. It is which English giant is willing to test just how far his impact can stretch.
