Man Utd should throw blank cheque at £102m assassin Victor Osimhen after Napoli stunner

Victor Osimhen would represent the perfect investment for Manchester United in their quest to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Posted Monday, October 24, 2022 by Express.co.uk

Victor Osimhen is proving his worth as a world-class striker after his stunner for Napoli

He simply had no right to score from there. A long, hoisted ball in behind the Roma defence was seemingly heading nowhere before the electric acceleration of Victor Osimhen turned a nothing ball into something. He then showed phenomenal strength to shrug off man-mountain Chris Smalling before rifling home from the tightest of angles. If this wasn't concrete evidence of where Manchester United should be shopping in their pursuit of a top-class striker, they must be blind.

Osimhen is the very definition of a manager's dream. In fact, it's a major surprise that Napoli are yet to receive any mega-money proposal for their Nigerian frontman.

Although there are undeniable question marks with his fitness record, he is a £100million player - worth the investment. He is on course to become one of the best centre-forwards in world football if he continues to develop at his current rate.

His rise to prominence has not been a conventional path to stardom following a failed spell with Wolfsburg but those within the game have long been aware of his talents.

Legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger held talks with the player way back in 2015 after the Under-17 World Cup, when Osimhen starred in attack for his country at the tournament in Chile - scoring 10 goals.

He has been a goalscorer since day dot but his adaptation to senior football required patience. A move to Charleroi in Belgium set the ball rolling before Lille came calling. It soon became clear he was destined for greater things having rifled home 13 Ligue 1 goals in his only season in France.

Napoli then shelled out a club-record £67million fee for the striker, who is now ripping up Serie A as Luciano Spalletti's side sit top of the pile having also blitzed through their Champions League group that also contains Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.

Osimhen has not even been the star of the show due to a hamstring problem but he made his most important contribution yet with a stunning winner at Roma on Sunday night.

The remarkable finish showcased exactly why Osimhen is reportedly valued at £102million by Napoli and furthermore, why he would be worth a roll of the dice.

At just 23, it could be argued that his valuation is excessive but ultimately, Osimhen is well on his way to becoming one of the best strikers of his generation.

Manchester United have reportedly tried to sign him in the past back in 2020, while a move was also reconsidered this summer in the closing stages of the transfer window when Cristiano Ronaldo was offered to Napoli by Jorge Mendes.

It's the kind of signing that would really elevate United's attack to the next level, as he would be an ideal fit for Erik ten Hag's style of swashbuckling attacking football.

Osimhen can lead the line on his own while also integrating his fellow forwards into play. Yet as shown on Sunday at Roma, he also has the arrogance to win matches on his own.

Napoli are sitting pretty after executing an impressive rebuild and while they are notoriously tough negotiators, every player has a price.

The current striker market is starved a top quality options, which is partially why United are yet to sign another centre-forward as competition for Ronaldo.

However, Osimhen ticks just about every box and his stellar performance for Napoli was further proof that he has the credentials to become the latest iconic United striker. This is a deal they should be all over.