Whether Cristiano Ronaldo is at Manchester United or not next season, Victor Osimhen’s red-hot form is proving difficult to ignore.
The Telegraph has reported that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is planning on staying at Old Trafford next season regardless of whether the Reds qualify for the Champions League or not.
Despite the 37-year-old potentially playing a Europa League game next season for the first time in 20 years, Manchester United need to significantly lighten the goalscoring burden on the great Portuguese.
Edinson Cavani will leave the club on a free transfer in June and there is uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
The Red Devils look destined to miss out on signing Erling Haaland and Dusan Vlahovic has been signed by Juventus tasked with the job of filling the goalscoring void that Ronaldo left in the summer.
Apart from Ronaldo, who has 18 goals to his name this season across all competitions, no other Manchester United player has yet hit double figures this season. Bruno Fernandes is our second highest goalscorer with nine strikes to his name.
Osimhen has more Serie A goals from his last two games (4) then the likes of Pogba, Martial, Lingard, Cavani, Elanga, Sancho and Rashford have scored individually in the top-flight this campaign.
The Reds have been keeping a close eye on the Nigerian striker, who is valued at £84m (The Mail), with a view to potentially submitting a summer bid.
BBC Sport report Napoli chairman Aurelio De Larentiis spent a club-record £81.3 million to sign Osimhen from Lille in 2020.
The 23-year-old is currently spearheading Napoli’s Serie A title charge and his goalscoring record throughout his career indicates he is likely to score goals wherever he goes.
Aside from a 16-game barren spell with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg following a move from his native country, Osimhen has 63 goals and 17 assists from 129 games (Transfermarkt).
During that period, Napoli’s number nine is practically averaging a goal every other game. For Luciano Spalletti’s side this season, Osimhen has 15 goals from 25 games.
The mobile striker who presses from the front and can score all types of goals is only going to get better at the age of 23.
Osimhen is a complete forward who would provide United with a focal point and a different way of hurting teams.
Napoli will be keen to keep hold of their star striker for as long as possible, but it seems a big-money move is on the cards for the man who has 10 goals to his name from 18 Nigeria caps.
Manchester United need to look long-term when resolving the number nine position and Victor Osimhen looks like a man who fits the billing.
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