Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United should pay £150 million to sign Serie A striker

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Manchester United should pay £150 million to sign Victor Osimhen this summer, says Rio Ferdinand.

Speaking to FIVE, Rio Ferdinand says he believes Victor Osimhen is a must-sign for the Red Devils.

Ferdinand has also been supportive of Manchester United signing Harry Kane, however, the club have already backed out of this transfer due to strong resistance from Tottenham, The Guardian report.

With Kane unavailable, Ferdinand wants Manchester United to go all out for Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24

Victor Osimhen to Manchester United call

Victor Osimhen will not come cheap at all. Napoli are open to big offers, but would only sell for in excess of £100 million,  The Mail report.

When it was pointed out to Ferdinand that Osimhen could cost £150 million, Manchester United’s entire budget and then some, his response was unequivocal.

“Do it. Look at the market. Who else is there? There’s no one ready-made.”

Osimhen finished last season as the top goalscorer in Serie A, netting 26 goal in 32 league games, also scoring five goals in six Champions League matches, 31 goals in total.

Osimhen has also been in stunning form for Nigeria in African Cup Of Nations qualification, with seven goals in five matches.

‘Osimhen over Hojlund’

Another striker on Manchester United’s radar is Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund, viewed as a more affordable striker, at just 20-years-old, four years younger than Osimhen.

He is not as polished as Osimhen, and not as prolific, with only nine Serie A goals to his name so far.

Ferdinand believes the two are incomparable, commenting on Hojlund: “He’s not ready made, ain’t done it properly at the top consistently. You’re buying him off the back of ‘a season’.”

This might well be the case, but the danger is if Manchester United leave it two seasons with Hojlund, his price tag will rocket further.

It would be a bet on Hojlund reaching Osimhen’s level, and Erik ten Hag’s ability to develop him in-house.

Ferdinand does raise a fair point though, as United need a proven option who can lead the line immediately. Too much pressure on Hojlund right away could be more of a hindrance.