Victor Osimhen: He goes missing for days — England legend reveals why Premier League clubs didn't bid for Super Eagles star

Legendary English striker Gary Lineker has hinted as to why Premier League clubs failed to make a move for Victor Osimhen this summer, instead opting for inferior options. 

The Nigeria international’s desire to play in the English top flight is a fact, as the player has expressed this dream in multiple interviews. It came close to fruition last summer when Chelsea were courting his services; however, the deal fell through. 

One season away from Napoli, on loan at Galatasaray, where he shone, suitors from the English top flight were expected to return for the Nigerian this summer. He seemingly expected them as well, as he stalled for weeks before accepting Galatasaray's proposal. 

Instead, we saw Chelsea sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap; Liverpool sign Hugo Ekitike; Manchester United sign Matheus Cunha; and Arsenal sign Viktor Gyokeres, all of whom are not as accomplished as the Nigerian striker, who eventually signed for Galatasaray. 

Lineker, who is well in tune with English top-flight football, having hosted BBC’s Match of the Day for 26 years before leaving in May, fawned over Osimhen’s talents, revealing that he has monitored the Nigerian closely since watching him dominate his club, Leicester City. 

Lineker then said that Osimhen's character was a contributing factor to Premier League clubs failing to make an effort for him. 

“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester when they were in the Europa League,” Lineker said on the Rest is Football Podcast. 

“He was so impressive and I’ve followed his career because of that. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli. I mean, he was sensational.

“I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense.”

While reservation about Osimhen's attitude is not a bombshell revelation by Lineker, as the striker's expletive-filled rant targeted at Finidi George happened in public view, it is more likely that the financial implications of signing the Nigerian were a bigger stumbling block. 

Galatasaray announced that Osimhen's salary was around €15 million net. This would mean a Premier League club had to shell out an annual budget of €28.3 million to cover Osimhen's gross salary, making him the second-highest earner in the division.