Victor Osimhen: Why United are considering signing Galatasaray striker | OneFootball

Manchester United’s approach of taking expensive gambles on young strikers with high potential has produced underwhelming results, to say the least.

Since 2023, United have spent around €200 million on relatively inexperienced strikers, including Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Benjamin Sesko. Both Hojlund and Zirkzee have flopped at Old Trafford.

Sesko is athletically and technically gifted, but the Slovenian has not exactly set the world alight. As such, the Red Devils should definitely sign a more reliable goalscorer ahead of next season to challenge on all fronts.

Galatasaray set Victor Osimhen price tag

According to SportsBoom, Victor Osimhen’s name is “once again echoing in the offices” of Manchester United. 

It is claimed Osimhen’s “elite performance and leadership on the pitch” have reignited the European transfer market, with Arsenal and Bayern Munich also monitoring the Nigerian.

The former Napoli striker, who sealed a permanent move to Galatasaray for €75 million last summer, is now “at the centre of a potential record-breaking exit in the summer of 2026.”

Galatasaray’s desire is to keep hold of their talisman, who has scored 55 goals in 67 appearances for them, but “the need for financial sustainability, combined with the player’s lifelong dream of the Premier League, could breach this defensive line.”

However, the Süper Lig giants are demanding a fee in the region of €130 million for Osimhen.

Why Manchester United picked Hojlund over Osimhen

It is understood that “the pressure from club legends” like Rio Ferdinand is pushing the United board toward a more “aggressive pursuit” for Osimhen. 

Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United previously decided against signing Osimhen due to the Africa Cup of Nations schedule.

Victor Osimhen Stats: 2025/26 Season

The club’s former first-team coach Benni McCarthy, who worked under Erik ten Hag, shed light on United’s thinking in 2023.

McCarthy said: “If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for AFCON. I think he would have been very successful there. But it [AFCON] was a big stumbling block.

The Mancunians instead signed Atalanta talent Hojlund, who was loaned out to Napoli last season after failing to find his feet in England.

It seems United have have learned their lesson, as they recently spent big on signing Premier League-proven forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is bound by the same commitments as Osimhen.

Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images

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