Victor Osimhen: The Striker Manchester United Legends Praise
Victor Osimhen has spent years being linked with the Premier League. The noise has never really gone away. It has just followed him from Germany to Belgium, from France to Italy, and now to Turkey.
The Nigerian forward’s European story began at Wolfsburg, but his real breakthrough came on loan at Charleroi, where he turned raw potential into something far more serious. Lille picked him up and, across a sharp, eye-catching 2019-20 season in France, he turned himself into one of the most sought-after young strikers on the continent. Napoli paid big to win that race.
In Naples, he delivered. Osimhen powered Luciano Spalletti’s side to a historic Serie A title, smashing in 31 league goals across the 2022-23 campaign and dragging the club to its first Scudetto in 33 years. Defenders bounced off him, crowds fed off him, and scouts from England took note.
Premier League giants watched closely. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea were all reported to have weighed up moves, but no bid ever quite turned into a deal. While the speculation swirled, Osimhen’s career took another twist.
He is now with Galatasaray, and the numbers in Turkey are ruthless: 65 goals in 78 appearances. New league, same story. He runs in behind, bullies centre-backs, finishes with conviction. At 27, he looks like a forward built for the Premier League’s chaos – pace, power, and a penalty-box instinct that does not go quiet for long.
Those traits have not gone unnoticed at Old Trafford. When that Premier League question was put to Andy Cole, the 1999 Treble winner did not hesitate over Osimhen’s quality. Speaking to GOAL, in association with Unibet, 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.”
That last line lingers. You never know who he’ll go to.
United’s former players, though, keep pointing in the same direction.
Patrice Evra, never shy about what he thinks the club needs, recently boiled United’s problems down to one thing when speaking to GOAL: a striker. “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, another ex-United forward who understands the pressure of leading the line at Old Trafford, has been just as emphatic about the Nigerian. The former France international spelled out why he believes Osimhen fits the profile.
“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 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.”
From Cole to Evra to Saha, the message is consistent: if United want a centre-forward who has carried expectation, lived with scrutiny and still delivered, Osimhen fits the bill.
The question now is not whether he can handle the Premier League. It’s which English giant will decide they can no longer afford to watch him do it somewhere else.
