Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has once again urged the club to act decisively in their pursuit of a striker, warning that they risk missing out on Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ferdinand, a vocal supporter of signing the Napoli star, described the potential fee for Osimhen as “peanuts” given his quality and the current market, and has urged United to avoid letting Galatasaray steal a march on the deal.
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with Osimhen, who is expected to leave Napoli this summer. However, United’s hesitation has left the door open for other suitors. Turkish champions Galatasaray are reported to have submitted an opening bid of €60m for the prolific forward, though Napoli rejected the offer.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ferdinand emphasized the need for United to secure a proven No.9, singling out Osimhen as the perfect fit.
“I’m like a broken record. If anyone listens to my podcast, I’ve been saying Osimhen for a while now. He’s a proper centre-forward—experienced and knows how to score goals at the highest level,” Ferdinand said.
“I saw Galatasaray put in a £50m bid. That’s absolute peanuts for a top-class striker, one of the best in the world. I’ll be really disappointed if he ends up at Galatasaray for that amount while Manchester United are still desperate for a No.9.”
While United are also monitoring Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres—who previously worked under manager Ruben Amorim in Portugal—Ferdinand admitted that Osimhen remains his top choice.
“I’d be disappointed to miss out on Gyökeres if we don’t land a striker. But if we get Osimhen, I wouldn’t be too concerned,” he added.
Osimhen, 26, has one year remaining on his contract and Napoli are reportedly open to selling him for less than his €75m (£65m/$88m) release clause. Despite receiving massive offers from Saudi Pro League clubs—most notably Al Hilal—the Super Eagles star has turned them down, signaling a preference to stay in Europe.
Reports suggest Osimhen has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with Galatasaray, but negotiations between the Turkish club and Napoli remain at a standstill.
United now face mounting pressure to act fast, or risk watching one of the world’s most coveted strikers slip through their fingers.
