Despite a midseason change of management and philosophy at Old Trafford, Manchester United supporters have continued to endure a goal-shy first team, with a misfiring forward line netting only 28 times in the Premier League.
Young attackers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have carried the load, but neither has yet caught fire, with both men often rotated with little success in front of goal.
Fundamentally, it has proven a critical error in not signing a more experienced goal-getter to take some pressure off both, inevitably allowing them time to find their feet and form without the scrutiny accompanying their weekly outings.
Enter the prospect of Victor Osimhen and the opportunity to land a proven hitman who wishes to test himself in football’s most competitive division.
Victor Osimhen would be an outstanding candidate for Ruben Amorim
Nigerian international Osimhen is the definition of a modern centre forward with the ability to transform any attack.
The 26-year-old was the subject of a dispute with Napoli after negotiating with Chelsea and Al Ahli in the summer. However, a move to either club failed to materialise, and he opted for a temporary switch to Galatasaray instead.
Possessing a wealth of experience, the Lagos man has played in several Europen competitions, including Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Belgian Pro League and Serie A, scoring goals regularly and obtaining a notable record in Italy.
His most prolific season to date came in 2022-23 when he bagged an impressive 26 goals, leading Napoli to a first Scudetto in 33 years and becoming the highest-scoring African player in Serie A history, beating former Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto’o.
Key attributes make Osimhen ideal for Ruben’s system
As we have witnessed at Sporting, Amorim enjoys having a strong, hard-running centre-forward to lead the line – one who can regularly find the net.
The Portuguese tactician transformed Swedish attacker Viktor Gyokeres from somewhat of a journeyman in the English Championship to one of Europe’s top finishers in a very short space of time.
Gyokeres and Osimhen share numerous physical attributes, including direct, powerful running, top-quality hold-up play and a proven aerial threat.
With the Swede set to have plenty of offers this coming summer, it would be difficult for United to lure him to M16, especially if they don’t have Champions League football to fall back on.
Surely, Osimhen would be a top-class alternative.
The former Lille man stands at 6”1 and has a wide frame with long legs and explosive speed. These attributes make him an ideal target man in Amorim’s system, while capable of contributing to the build-up phases.
The Manchester side may need to get creative to land their man
There have been varying reports about Osimhen’s availability in the market once he returns from Turkey. While some suggest he could be sold for a cut-price deal, others have stated the Italians would want a significant amount of money to part company.
Transfer Guru Fabrizio Romano confirmed earlier this week the player has a new release clause in his contract to be activated in the summer, totalling €75 million.
This would almost certainly prove far too costly for United, given their issues with the Profit and Sustainability rules. However, the record English champions have tracked Osimhen closely for several years and retain an interest.
Yagiz Sabuncouoglu has recently stated that United and Paris Saint Germain have shown ‘official interest’ in signing the African hitman in the off-season.
Given the precarious financial scenario, the North West giants may need to get creative to tempt the Italians into doing business, and a loan deal could prove a more realistic option.
Perhaps a swap deal between Osimhen and United winger Alejandro Garnacho could also be on the cards, given the desire to acquire the attacker for Antonio Conte.
A reliable source of goals is imperative
With Hojlund and Zirkzee toiling up front with sporadic contributions, Amorim must be given a consistent source of goals in the next window.
No team can challenge for honours without a reliable finisher – let alone retain a comfortable standing in the Premier League.
Having supplied 19 goals and five assists for Gala this campaign, the hotshot is a perfect upgrade for this troubled side, but it is still unclear if anything can materialise.
Would you like to see Victor Osimhen join Manchester United in the summer?
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