Victor Osimhen has develop into the envy of Europe’s high golf equipment along with his blockbuster performances for Napoli this season, and says his dream is to play within the Premier League – so might that occur and what would he deliver?
Napoli have been one of many shock packages of this season – and sit 18 factors clear on the high of Serie A in addition to being on the point of the Champions League quarter-finals.
They host Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday within the final 16 second leg, having gained the primary sport 2-0 in Germany.
Nigeria striker Osimhen, 24, is Serie A’s high scorer with 19 objectives in 22 video games, 5 greater than Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
Solely Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland and Tottenham’s Harry Kane have scored extra objectives in Europe’s high 5 leagues than Osimhen.
A correct quantity 9, his 6ft 1in body, tempo and ending make him virtually unplayable at occasions.
So what now for a person who idolised Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and rejected the possibility to hitch Arsenal?
Will Osimhen come to the Premier League?
Osimhen, who performed for Wolfsburg, Charleroi and Lille earlier than becoming a member of Napoli in 2020, not too long ago made headlines when he mentioned: “I am working so onerous to ensure that I obtain my dream of taking part in within the Premier League some day.
“It is a course of and I simply need to carry on this momentum and proceed to do effectively.
“Lots of people worldwide take into account the Premier League as one of the best and the strongest league however now I am in among the best leagues on this planet which is the Italian Serie A.”
A swap to England won’t be easy although, with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis a larger-than-life determine and troublesome negotiator.
James Horncastle, an Italian soccer knowledgeable, mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast that Osimhen would price mre than 100m euros (£89m) and “most likely nearer to” 150m euros (£133m).
Solely Paris St-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have ever moved for charges of £133m or increased.
The present British switch file is Chelsea’s £107m signing of Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January.
Horncastle added: “The one factor to counter in opposition to the inevitability that so usually is projected from the entitlement of Premier League golf equipment and followers is that in the end negotiating with Napoli isn’t straightforward.
“There is a purpose Kalidou Koulibaly solely joined Chelsea in his 30s when he was linked to the Premier League for 5 years.”
Chelsea signed Senegal defender Koulibaly, 31, from Napoli final summer time for £35m – having first tried to signal him in 2016.
Speaking about Napoli’s all-time high scorer, Horncastle continued: “Chelsea have been ready to signal Dries Mertens when Frank Lampard was the supervisor [in 2020] and as an alternative he solely leaves [last summer to Galatasaray] when Napoli mentioned we cannot offer you a brand new deal.
“It will be the identical with Victor Osimhen. I am certain many golf equipment will get in contact with the president and after a month of negotiation will suppose is that this actually value it? That is all the time been De Laurentiis’ nice energy.”
Horncastle added: “He wasn’t suggesting a Premier League transfer was imminent, extra it is one thing he is engaged on and it will occur if it occurs.”
Who might need Osimhen?
There are solely a handful of golf equipment who might presumably afford Osimhen, who has scored 15 objectives in 22 video games for Nigeria.
“I do not suppose his standpoint is shocking contemplating the notion of the Premier League is one of the best on this planet, the place golf equipment can take advantage of cash – excluding PSG, Actual Madrid or Barcelona to some extent,” mentioned Horncastle.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, PSG and Actual Madrid are simply a number of the groups to be linked to the striker not too long ago. Osimhen is a daily within the BBC gossip column.
The Blues might be a potential vacation spot, with Graham Potter’s aspect having spent £289m on signings in January alone and nonetheless needing a correct striker.
No Chelsea gamers have hit double figures but and their solely match striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored three objectives and was unnoticed of their Champions League squad.
On high of that, Osimhen has frequently spoken about his love for a Blues icon in fellow African striker Drogba.
“I took Drogba as my position mannequin whereas I used to be rising up and that has been the guiding gentle,” he mentioned in 2021. “Watching him loads and the type of mentality he has has actually helped me loads to get to the place I’m right this moment.”
Manchester United, too, are considered determined for a striker – with Cristiano Ronaldo gone, Wout Weghorst solely on mortgage and Anthony Martial having had harm issues.
Osimhen isn’t any one-season surprise
Osimhen’s worldwide profile has risen dramatically this season with Napoli flying in Europe and at dwelling – however he has been spectacular for a number of years now.
For one, when Napoli signed him from Lille virtually three years in the past they paid an preliminary £65m, a file price for an African participant then.
Osimhen agreed to maneuver to Europe to hitch German aspect Wolfsburg in 2016, signing knowledgeable deal the next 12 months after his 18th birthday.
“Arsenal wished me and I really feel honoured to be invited over. However personally I really feel Wolfsburg is a ladder for me to succeed in my skilled objectives,” he told BBC Sport at the time.
After failing to attain in 16 video games for Wolfsburg he went on trial with a number of Belgian golf equipment however Membership Bruges and Zulte Waregem didn’t choose him up, so he went on mortgage to Charleroi.
He netted 20 objectives and was named Charleroi’s participant of the 12 months. The Belgian membership activated a clause to make that deal everlasting in Could 2019.
Wolfsburg certainly remorse that clause as a result of Charleroi paid 3.5m euros for him, and two months later bought him to Lille for 12.5m euros.
He hit 18 objectives in his one season in France, together with one within the Champions League in opposition to Chelsea, and was named Lille’s participant of the 12 months.
He then made the 70m euros transfer to Napoli and has scored 49 objectives in 89 video games for the Italian aspect.
However one warning to any potential suitor – accidents have adopted Osimhen round and he has but to play 40 video games in a season.
He had massive spells out injured in each seasons in Germany and the issues have returned in Italy. He has missed 14, 9 and 4 (to date) Serie A video games respectively in his three seasons by way of completely different accidents.
