Man Utd handed Victor Osimhen transfer demand

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • 8 Apr 2025 19:00 BST
  • 4 min read
Victor Osimhen, Man Utd, 2024/25
© IMAGO

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has urged his former club to sign Nigeria superstar Victor Osimhen this summer.

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The 26-year-old is currently on loan at Galatasaray, but he is set to leave Napoli on a permanent deal ahead of the 2025-26 campaign and Man Utd are one of the leading contenders to secure his signature.

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Current ETV
Player image Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Galatasaray logo

Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Galatasaray

Galatasaray

€69M

ETV Range

€62.1M - €75.9M

FootballTransfers understands that Osimhen remains open to joining Chelsea this summer, after his failed move to Stamford Bridge in 2024, but Ruben Amorim has been told to finalise an agreement to land the Nigerian amid Man Utd’s pursuit of a new centre forward.

Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap has reportedly been identified as a priority target for the Red Devils this summer, however Ferdinand instead believes that Osimhen is the perfect solution to his former club’s current issues.

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Man Utd told to sign Victor Osimhen

Fellow ex-Man Utd star Gary Neville is of the opinion that the Red Devils must sign at least five new players this summer if they want to challenge near the top of the Premier League table next season, and Ferdinand has now weighed in on the debate.

“I agree with Gary Neville that they need five players,” Ferdinand told his YouTube channel. “I think they need four or five players, but they will be constrained by PSR.

“I want a centre midfielder to play alongside [Manuel] Ugarte, that player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it through to Bruno [Fernandes] and the strikers. And you know who I’d go for? Adam Wharton!”

Victor Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray
© IMAGO - Victor Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray

When asked which striker Man Utd should sign, Ferdinand admitted: “Osimhen. And I know, sorry Napoli and Galatasaray, if I’m Man Utd, Osimhen comes to Man Utd next year, I’m making it happen.

“Another one I’d go and buy is Cunha,” he continued. “He’s made it clear that he wants to leave, so I’d go and get Cunha.

“You know who else I’d go and get? [Jeremie] Frimpong at right wing back,” Ferdinand concluded.

Wharton, Osimhen, Cunha and Frimpong have a combined Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €233.7 million and given Man Utd’s financial constraints, they may need to sell a number of current first-team players in order to fund that outlay.

All four players have been tipped to leave their current clubs this summer, although Crystal Palace are eager to retain Wharton’s services and could potentially demand a fee of up to €100m for the England U21 star.