Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has advised the club to secure Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to reinforce their attack and assist Rasmus Hojlund, who has struggled to find form, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand identified the 2023 CAF African Footballer of the Year as an ideal candidate to not only score goals but also mentor Hojlund, who has yet to justify his £70 million transfer fee.
“If it’s financially feasible, I’d go all out to get Osimhen now. Even a loan move would work! He’s a proven goal scorer, experienced, and has performed at the highest level,” Ferdinand emphasized.
The ex-England center-back’s remarks followed another underwhelming display from Hojlund in Manchester United’s tight 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, where the Danish forward was withdrawn after 55 minutes.
Currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen has been in electrifying form, having netted 16 goals and provided five assists in just 12 games for the Turkish giants.
The Nigerian striker’s reputation soared after a phenomenal 2022/23 campaign with Napoli, where he claimed the Serie A Golden Boot with 26 goals, guiding the club to its first league title in 33 years.
Ferdinand expressed concerns about United’s current attacking options, noting that neither Hojlund nor his backup Joshua Zirkzee have demonstrated the necessary quality to lead the frontline.
“People expect Hojlund to be a finished product because of his hefty price tag. But he’s still developing. Typically, a young striker learns from an experienced forward, but at United, he has no one to look up to,” said the six-time Premier League winner.
United’s interest in Osimhen aligns with new manager Ruben Amorim’s plans to strengthen their attack, as the club has managed just 17 goals in 12 league games this season.
The Red Devils had previously pursued the 24-year-old before his €70 million switch to Napoli in 2020/21, where he has since registered 57 goals in 95 appearances.
There were earlier reports suggesting Manchester United and Napoli were considering a swap deal involving Marcus Rashford, but discussions on that front seem to have stalled.
Meanwhile, Dusan Vlahovic is expected to part ways with Juventus at the end of the season. According to Gazzetta, both Osimhen and Zirkzee are being considered as potential replacements for the Serbian striker at the Allianz Stadium.
With the Serie A giants actively exploring the market for Vlahovic’s successor, Osimhen (on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli) and Zirkzee (linked with Manchester United) remain top targets for Juventus as they plan for the future.
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