Why Premier League teams failed to sign Osimhen – Cole

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has shed light on the factors that may have prevented Premier League clubs from signing Nigeria international Victor Osimhen. Although Osimhen has been linked with major clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, none of the teams have managed to complete a deal for the player.

Speaking to GOAL, Cole highlighted that while Osimhen is a goalscorer, capable of performing at the highest level, there are several other considerations in the signing process. "He scores goals. He scored goals in Italy and he’s scoring goals in Turkey as well," Cole stated. "But, you know, it depends. There are many different factors in signing a player from a respective country.

It’s not all about just the salary or the transfer fee." Osimhen's career began in Europe with Wolfsburg, where he made a name for himself before his breakthrough during a loan spell at Belgian side Charleroi. He subsequently joined Lille and Napoli, where he helped the latter win the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season. Osimhen has continued to impress for Galatasaray, where he has scored 65 goals in 78 appearances.

Despite this impressive record, Premier League clubs have not managed to sign the player, with Manchester United being notably absent. Former United defender Patrice Evra and former France international Louis Saha have both expressed support for a potential move for Osimhen, commending his goal-scoring ability, Champions League experience and success at Napoli and Galatasaray.

However, United has opted not to pursue the player and instead signed Benjamin Sesko as their main out-and-out striker. Osimhen remains under contract at Galatasaray, and Premier League interest in the player could resurface in future transfer windows.