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Victor Osimhen still wears a protective mask even after recovering from a serious cheekbone and eye injury in 2021Victor Osimhen has become the envy of Europe’s top clubs with his blockbuster performances for Napoli this season, and says his dream is to play in the Premier League – so could that happen and what would he bring?
Napoli have been one of the surprise packages of this season – and sit 18 points clear at the top of Serie A as well as being on the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals.
They host Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday in the last 16 second leg, having won the first game 2-0 in Germany.
Nigeria striker Osimhen, 24, is Serie A’s top scorer with 19 goals in 22 games, five more than Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Tottenham’s Harry Kane have scored more goals in Europe’s top five leagues than Osimhen.
A proper number nine, his 6ft 1in frame, pace and finishing make him almost unplayable at times.
So what now for a man who idolised Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and rejected the chance to join Arsenal?
Watch The Football News Show: Will Napoli transfer their Serie A form to the Champions League?Will Osimhen come to the Premier League?
Osimhen, who played for Wolfsburg, Charleroi and Lille before joining Napoli in 2020, recently made headlines when he said: “I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day.
“It’s a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well.
“A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I’m in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.”
A switch to England might not be simple though, with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis a larger-than-life figure and difficult negotiator.
James Horncastle, an Italian football expert, said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast that Osimhen would cost mre than 100m euros (£89m) and “probably closer to” 150m euros (£133m).
Only Paris St-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have ever moved for fees of £133m or higher.
The current British transfer record is Chelsea’s £107m signing of Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January.
Horncastle added: “The one thing to counter against the inevitability that so often is projected from the entitlement of Premier League clubs and fans is that ultimately negotiating with Napoli is never easy.
“There’s a reason Kalidou Koulibaly only joined Chelsea in his 30s when he was linked to the Premier League for five years.”
Chelsea signed Senegal defender Koulibaly, 31, from Napoli last summer for £35m – having first tried to sign him in 2016.
Talking about Napoli’s all-time top scorer, Horncastle continued: “Chelsea were prepared to sign Dries Mertens when Frank Lampard was the manager [in 2020] and instead he only leaves [last summer to Galatasaray] when Napoli said we won’t give you a new deal.
“It’ll be the same with Victor Osimhen. I’m sure many clubs will get in touch with the president and after a month of negotiation will think is this really worth it? That’s always been De Laurentiis’ great strength.”
Horncastle added: “He wasn’t suggesting a Premier League move was imminent, more it’s something he’s working on and it’ll happen if it happens.”
Who could want Osimhen?There are only a handful of clubs who could possibly afford Osimhen, who has scored 15 goals in 22 games for Nigeria.
“I don’t think his point of view is surprising considering the perception of the Premier League is the best in the world, where clubs can make the most money – with the exception of PSG, Real Madrid or Barcelona to some extent,” said Horncastle.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid are just some of the teams to be linked to the striker recently. Osimhen is a regular in the BBC gossip column.
The Blues could be a possible destin
Source: BBC Sport | Read More
