Victor Osimhen would ’100 per cent join Manchester United’ were the Premier League side to make a move for the Nigeria star.
Osimhen, 27, has been perennially linked with a move to the Premier League over the years having been admired by United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
A move to Stamford Bridge fell through in 2024, later sealing a shock loan move to Galatasaray that summer having burned bridges at Napoli.
The striker scored 47 goals in 41 appearances in his first season in Turkey and despite lingering interest from major European clubs, Galatasaray secured his services on a permanent basis, smashing the Turkish record to sign him for €75million (£65m) on a long-term deal.
Osimhen has continued to thrive in the Super Lig with former Premier League star and Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan hailing his performances on his appearances on Rio Presents.
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The former Sunderland striker expressed his surprise no Premier League clubs snapped him up last summer with former United star Ferdinand convinced he would not hesitate if the call came.
‘Victor Osimhen, he loves scoring goals, he plays with his heart, and gives everything. I’m surprised big clubs didn’t go for him in this transfer window,’ Gyan said.
‘But hopefully, I’m feeling Manchester United too, only if he wants to come because of their history and everything.’
Ferdinand replied: ‘Osimhen will come to United, if United offer to take Osimhen, he would go, 100%.’
United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all in the market for a centre forward last summer, signing Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko respectively. Those strikers have so far struggled with the demands of the Premier League with Paul Schloles declaring last August that United should have signed Osimhen over the Slovenia international.
Chelsea meanwhile signed two centre forwards in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap having also allowed Nicolas Jackson to leave Bayern Munich on loan.
While Pedro hit the ground running at last summer’s Club World Cup, he has just seven goals in all competitions this season while Delap’s first goal in the Premier League came just last week against Fulham.
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel was involved in negotiations with Osimhen in 2024 and was eager for his countryman to head to west London before the Delap deal was struck.
‘Everyone knows who I wanted to see come to the football club and who the fans wanted to see come to the football club, Mikel told Metro in June.
‘It is a shame he didn’t come to Chelsea, the club he supported as a kid growing up, but they have decided to go in a different direction [signing Delap] which is fine, I hope it works out for him at the club.
‘But I would have loved to see someone come in to hit the ground running straight away, who knows how to play in big games, in big competitions who has been there and done it. But we have to support Delap and make sure it works out for him.’
