Super Eagles Head Coach Gernot Rohr has urged Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to complete a move to the English Premier League when the transfer window opens, with the Lille frontman having impressed in his first season in Ligue 1. Having scored four goals in just nine senior appearances for the Super Eagles, Osimhen is seen as one of Nigeria’s best prospects, with 13 league goals for Lille having attracted the interest of some of the leading teams in England.
Coming from the Lagos-based club Ultimate Strikers Academy, Osimhen first made a name for himself at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, which led to the striker completing a move to German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. However, a series of injuries restricted his chances, with Osimhen ending his two years in Germany with no goals to his name. However, a loan spell at Belgian side Charleroi during the 18-19 campaign was much more productive, with 20 goals in 36 appearances ultimately leading to Lille making their move.
How Osimhen Became One of the Top Strikers in Ligue 1
Osimhen finished his first season in France as Lille’s top goalscorer, helping his team in qualifying for the Europa League in the process. However, with national team boss Rohr believing that he has what it takes to play in the more prestigious Champions League, a move to the English top-flight would not be a surprise. Still aged just 21, the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services, while Italian club Napoli is also a possible destination.
The remaining weeks of the campaign in Europe could have a significant impact upon his future, with both Manchester United and Tottenham still hoping to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while Napoli’s chances of doing so in Serie A look slim to none. Should United finish inside the top four in England, with bookmaker 888Sport offering punters odds of 2.38 for them to do so, a move for Osimhen could materialise, despite fellow Super Eagle Odion Ighalo having extended his loan spell at Old Trafford.
Why Rohr is Pushing for Osimhen to Move
Super Eagles boss Rohr is understandably keen for more of his players to participate in the biggest competitions in football, with there being no bigger than the Champions League. No players named in the Nigerian squad for their African Cup of Nations qualification matches against Sierra Leone in March, encounters which were eventually postponed, play for teams competing in the Champions League, with this potentially effecting the Super Eagles in a negative way.
The 2021 African Cup of Nations takes place in Cameroon, with Nigeria hoping to do better than their third place finish in 2019. Whether or not Osimhen is playing in England or another of Europe’s top leagues, the forward is likely to be a crucial player for the Super Eagles in the tournament, with the former Ultimate Strikers Academy graduate now being the No.1 forward for Rohr.