Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has disclosed one risk facing Premier League Clubs if they sign Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen this summer, saying that the Nigerian international cannot adapt to the rigours of the Premiership.
‘We need to get a No. 9 in the building,’ he said on his YouTube channel. ‘There are two names that keep coming up – Osimhen and Kane.
‘Ultimately, it is down to Kane and (Tottenham chairman) Daniel Levy. If they both say yes and want to make it happen, I think United will get it done. The numbers can’t be ridiculous.
‘They can get blood, sweat, tears, goals and records out of Kane. Let the guy do what he needs to do now, man. Let the guy compete for titles and trophies. They’re closer than where the Spurs are, that’s the point.
‘Osimhen is a different kettle of fish. He’s 24 years old, scored goals in France and Italy. Won the league and knows how to win leagues.
‘He’s been a No. 9 at a dominant team. Is that transferable to the Premier League? No-one knows that. That’s the chance United would have to take on him.
‘That’s the only risk I see. He doesn’t know the league. Ability-wise and profile, he ticks every box, but there is an unknown factor. Can he adapt?
‘I’d take either of those two and I’d be happy but Kane guarantees you 25 goals a season, there’s no doubt he would get that.’
Osimhen has attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe following a sensational season in which he scored 31 goals in 39 games.
The Nigerian’s performances helped Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years and reach the knockout stages of the lucrative Champions League.
Manchester United are expected to sign a new striker this summer after releasing Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of last year and relying on Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst for much of the 2022-23 campaign.
Chelsea will also spend big on a goal scorer for new manager Mauricio Pochettino as they prepare to sell Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following miserable spells at Stamford Bridge.
Napoli have insisted they plan to keep hold of Osimhen this summer but the club’s president Aurelio de Laurentiis has offered hope to clubs hoping to secure his signature.
‘We already talked to Osimhen before the Scudetto celebration, so we already have a basic agreement on a two-year extension of his contract,’ Laurentiis said earlier in the month.
‘I have said for a while that Osimhen has to stay. Then, if an offer came in that I could not refuse for the good of Napoli, then we would consider it, as is only natural,’ he added.
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