Victor Osimhen: Reliable expert gives three major reasons big teams are running from Super Eagles striker

Despite his impressive scoring record and status as one of Africa’s top forwards, Nigerian international Victor Osimhen is currently not a top priority for Europe’s elite clubs. 

Renowned football journalist David Ornstein has offered three key reasons why some of the biggest teams appear to be holding back on pursuing the Super Eagles striker.

One major stumbling block is Osimhen’s salary expectations and Napoli’s asking price. Ornstein explained, “Galatasaray do want to make it permanent, clearly, if they can both make the finances work and convince him to join them.” 

Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal “have been pursuing the situation very aggressively,” but “he has rebuffed their advances or they haven't quite come to an agreement.” 

Napoli’s high valuation and the player’s salary demands have made negotiations difficult, especially for Premier League clubs weighing the financial risks.

Ornstein also highlighted concerns about Osimhen’s fit within potential teams, saying, “The stumbling block for the Premier League clubs so far seems to be, one, the salary expectations, and two, maybe he's not deemed to be the right character for them, the profile that they're looking for, in terms of age, in terms of where he fits into the team, the dressing room.” 

This suggests that while clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea admire his talent, they are cautious about how he would integrate into their squads.

Osimhen’s personal ambitions also play a role. Ornstein noted, “Premier League clubs are always heavily linked with him... but that doesn't translate into necessarily doing the deal.” 

He added that Osimhen’s priority remains uncertain but implied that “he is not a player I expect Manchester United to sign.” 

The striker’s desire to compete at the highest level, particularly in the Champions League, seems to outweigh lucrative offers from leagues like Saudi Arabia, which he has reportedly rebuffed despite their aggressive pursuit.

While Galatasaray seeks to finalise a permanent deal and Al-Hilal remains interested, Osimhen remains undecided. 

Ornstein concluded, “Until that window closes, stranger things have happened. I personally would love to see him in the Premier League, it would be amazing. But there's no kind of movement towards that firmly as things stand.” 

The transfer saga is expected to evolve as the summer progresses, with many watching closely where the Super Eagles striker will land next season.