Victor Osimhen: Man United’s plan for Galatasaray goal machine explained as major rival looks to strike first | OneFootball

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Manchester United have held internal discussions over a blockbuster move for Victor Osimhen, but face a fierce race with two of their Premier League rivals for the Galatasaray frontman, according to a new report.

A More Reliable No.9

While a major revamp in midfield has been the main priority at Old Trafford this summer, Manchester United are also on the hunt for a more reliable No.9 to ease the burden on Benjamin Sesko.

Signed from RB Leipzig for £74 million last summer, the Slovenia international exploded into life under Michael Carrick after a quiet start under his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, finishing with 12 goals in all competitions.

Possessing a frightening combination of speed, size and strength, Sesko is primed to explode this season, provided injuries do not conspire to halt his progress. However, the inability of his partner in crime up front – Joshua Zirkzee – to find the net on a consistent basis has led INEOS to explore alternatives.

Juventus are locked in talks to sign the struggling Dutchman, though the Old Lady want a loan while United’s hierarchy would prefer a permanent departure. There is interest elsewhere in Serie A, but the limited finances of Italian football make a deal difficult.

The preference would be to sign an experienced striker in Zirkzee’s place. This would be a move to arm Michael Carrick with another goal-scorer ahead of a return to the Champions League, rather than any concerns over Sesko’s long-term future in M16.

Nigerian Nightmare

Victor Osimhen Stats: 2025/26 Season

Sixty-one goals and sixteen assists in seventy-five appearances for the Lions is an impressive return, even within the context of one of Europe’s weaker leagues. His potent pairing of pace and power means the 6’1″ marksman has the perfect profile to thrive in the Premier League, even if his technique can sometimes be found lacking.

However, an exorbitant salary – “boosted by favourable tax arrangements in Turkey” – ranks amongst the highest in the Süper Lig, and would “require a considerable uplift or careful restructuring to fit Premier League salary structures,” TEAMtalk claims.

With INEOS having steadfastly sought to trim the wage bill since taking charge in the red half of Manchester, the likelihood of them sanctioning a big-money move for a striker on even bigger money himself is unlikely, which explains why United have “cooled their interest”.

Arsenal have also held recent discussions over a possible pursuit of Osimhen, following negotiations for Galatasaray to sign Gabriel Martinelli. BBC Sport confirms the Gunners’ interest.

Their local rivals Tottenham Hotspur are another interested party, though neither north London club is understood to be advancing a deal due to the same prohibitive financial demands which have deterred United.

“For now, the Nigerian international looks set to remain in Istanbul unless a club is prepared to meet both the high asking price and his salary expectations,” the report concludes. “Premier League sides may continue to assess the situation, but a breakthrough appears unlikely in the immediate term as the transfer window progresses.”

Final Thoughts: The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment

Overall credibility: 8/10 Why?   Manchester United’s interest in signing a striker has been widely reported this summer.   Victor Osimhen is a long-term target at Old Trafford, with the proven track record of goals INEOS want.   United’s limited budget makes it very likely a pursuit of Osimhen has been cooled, given the money required to bring him to England. TEAMtalk is not the best source of transfer news. No official confirmation of interest, or a withdrawal of interest, from the Red Devils.