Manchester United should pursue Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window to reach the next level under manager Michael Carrick, according to former players Patrice Evra and Louis Saha. The ex-United stars believe the Nigerian striker would make a significant impact as the club looks to strengthen its squad.
Osimhen scored 22 goals for Galatasaray last season, helping them secure the Turkish league title. Since joining from Napoli for £65 million, he has netted 59 goals in 74 appearances. The 27-year-old was previously linked with Chelsea but has yet to play in the Premier League.
United invested over £200 million last summer to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their attack. Sesko and Mbeumo each scored 11 Premier League goals in their debut campaigns at Old Trafford, while Cunha netted 10, one more than captain Bruno Fernandes.
After a slow start under Ruben Amorim, United turned their season around with Carrick, winning 12 of his 17 matches in charge to finish third. The team scored only two fewer goals than champions Arsenal in the Premier League, yet Evra has urged his former club to target Osimhen once the £37 million deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson is finalized.
Evra told GOAL: "Victor Osimhen. I have all due respect for Galatasaray, the love he gets there and what the player is like. Manchester United need a proper striker, and I have so much respect for the strikers at Man United. But, back in the day, we had four amazing strikers, and if you want to play every competition, you need more strikers."
He added: "Of course, you need some defenders, like an extra left back, because you could have an injury and a right-back. Of course, Casemiro is leaving, so you need to replace those players. But to name one player, I say Osimhen because I know this guy can make a difference."
The 27-year-old has scored goals at every club he has played for, including 76 in 133 games for Napoli before joining Galatasaray. That record, along with a contract until June 2029, means he would not come cheap, but Saha believes he is worth the investment.
Saha commented: "I really like Victor Osimhen. He's definitely got the character, he's got the quality. He's also got good European pedigree: he was a success in France, he was a champion in Italy with Napoli and he's gone to Turkey with Galatasaray and been brilliant, a move that he probably didn't want, let's be honest."
He continued: "He's scored goals at every level. He's got Champions League experience, and furthermore, he's got the type of personality and charisma that this United squad could really benefit from. I think he would be a transformational signing for Manchester United."
Saha concluded: "If you think about the pressure that he was under at Napoli, firing the club to its first title in 33 years, then he's the perfect man to lead the line for United. I think he would have a huge impact at United. I would love to see the club hierarchy move for him, I think he is exactly what we need."
