Victor Osimhen included in Manchester United’s striker shortlist for summer transfer

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has made it onto Manchester United’s four-man striker shortlist for the upcoming summer transfer window, as the Premier League club looks to strengthen its attacking options, according to reports.

Manchester United is expected to enter the transfer market to reinforce their forward line after seeing Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggle to find their best form this season.

Zirkzee has scored just six goals in 44 competitive appearances since his move from Bologna last summer, while Hojlund has netted eight goals in 39 matches across all competitions.

The difficulties faced by the duo have contributed to Manchester United’s overall struggles in the final third, with the team having scored just 37 goals in 29 Premier League matches this season—resulting in them being outscored by 13 teams in the league.

According to journalist Florian Plettenburg, Osimhen is among four strikers being considered by Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.

Osimhen is currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, where he has enjoyed an impressive season, scoring 26 goals in 30 appearances, including 20 goals in 22 league games, making him the top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig.

Though Osimhen is set to return to Napoli in the summer, it is expected that he will leave the club permanently ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Reports suggest that Osimhen is eager to move to Old Trafford, despite being linked with several other high-profile suitors, including Paris Saint-Germain.

In addition to Osimhen, Manchester United is reportedly interested in Viktor Gyokeres, a forward at Sporting Lisbon, who has impressed with his goalscoring ability.

United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, who worked with Gyokeres at Sporting, is well aware of his talent.

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The Red Devils are also monitoring two Bundesliga forwards: RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

Sesko, who has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, has scored 17 goals and registered six assists in 36 matches this season.

Meanwhile, Ekitike has scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in 38 appearances, including 13 goals in 25 Bundesliga games.

Meanwhile, Napoli is reportedly considering Rasmus Hojlund as a potential replacement for Osimhen, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Osimhen is currently on international duty with the Nigerian national team as they prepare for crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Speaking on the upcoming qualifiers, Osimhen expressed his desire to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, saying, “It’s a dream of every footballer to play at the World Cup, and with our situation in the group, I am desperate, like other players, to make it to the 2026 tournament.”

“We suffered a big disappointment in 2022, and we simply can’t let it happen again to us, the country, and our generation,” he added.