Strikers make their name with goals, and one man burst to super stardom in Serie A back in the 2022/23 season, Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian striker led his side Napoli to their third ever Serie A win, the first since 1989/90. A long wait for a side so passionately supported and having been the home of players like the late Diego Maradona. Maradona has been an icon in the city of Naples having helped them win their last Serie A.
Osimhen took on the role of leader in the title winning run netting 26 goals in 32 games in Serie A last season, along with five goals in six UEFA Champions League matches.
In their title defending season, Napoli slumped to a tenth place finish in Serie A and Osimhen’s injury stunted year ended with a respectable 15 goals in 25 games in Serie A reminding suitors of his quality and productivity on the pitch.
With many top clubs across Europe interested in improving their quality in the final third, the live betting on a big money move for Victor Osimhen is in full swing and a move to a bigger club looks to be inevitable.
Contract and Value
One factor that all fans and clubs need to consider is the wages which a player like Victor Osimhen will require if he is to make the move. A new contract was signed with Napoli back in late 2023 which sees him earn roughly €246,000 per week and this contract also came with a minimum fee release clause of reportedly around €120 million.
While the wages and upfront cost of the transfer fee will be steep, each club will also take into account his off-field earning potential with the commercial value he will bring to their club.
Osimhen is a leading star in Nigeria, as well as across Africa, and like Mohammed Salah at Liverpool, his following of supporters can bring more attention and commercial appeal to the club which can be off-set against the initial outlay to bring him to the team.
Potential Destinations
While there is plenty of financial revenue to gain for having Victor Osimhen as your striker, there is still a big initial fee which can limit the number of clubs who can realistically make a signing of this magnitude.
- Paris Staint-Germain
The almost bottomless pockets of the Qatari Sports Investments group which owns France’s biggest club who have dominated Ligue 1 for years.
They are no strangers to bringing in the biggest names in football having built their teams around players like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kyliam Mbappe.
Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made it no secret that the clubs ultimate aim is UEFA CHampions League glory and have failed to make the dream come true so far in his reign. The club has never achieved this, finishing as runners up in 2020 being their best attempt to date. The only French side to ever be crowned European Champions are Marseille, and that was back in 1993.
Losing Mbappe this summer to Real Madrid has left a huge hole in the roster for a superstar to come in. Osimhen could take over the role Mbappe played since there does not seem to be the belief that Gonḉalo Ramos can step up to take on the leading role as star centre forward just yet.
- Chelsea
When it comes to a transfer window, Todd Boehly has proven he is ready to splash the cash and look to strengthen the squad. A huge number of signings have come in, with plenty being young, potential superstars on long contracts who will be given the time to try and grow at the club.
By signing lots of young stars with potential, the team was missing leadership at times at the top end of the pitch and Nicholas Jackson struggled to be anywhere close to a clinical striker in 2023/24.
Chelsea have a conundrum with Romelu Lukaku who will return from his loan at Inter Milan this season and could use the Belgian striker in a deal to bring Osimhen in. If not, his departure may be required before a move might be made.
A clinical and consistent centre forward was the biggest miss for Chelsea last season, so someone of Osimhen’s quality will be very high on the list. Having fallen off the pace from Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool especially, Chelsea will look to make moves this summer to get back up to being title contenders once again.
Further options could emerge
These two sides could be the likely destinations, but others will definitely test the water as well. Arsenal in the Premier League could be in the market for a centre forward and will want to do all they can to clise the gap on Manchester City next season after missing out by such a small margin.
And lets not forget the Saudi Pro League, who can offer salaries almost unmatched by anywhere else in the world.
