Is Osimhen Worth the Fight? Why Top Clubs Are Hesitant About €120M Striker

In December 2023, Victor Osimhen extended his contract with Napoli until 2026, more than doubling his salary and setting a release clause at 120 million euros.

By doing so, the Nigerian striker has decreased his chances of moving to a top European club, as the transfer fee has risen substantially.

Chelsea and Arsenal might have been interested in acquiring Osimhen if the transfer price were between 50 and 80 million euros. However, currently, only PSG appears willing to pay more than 100 million euros, although it remains uncertain whether the French club will proceed with the transfer.

So, why are the wealthy English clubs reluctant to pay more than 100 million for Osimhen? Why hasn’t PSG agreed to activate the Nigerian’s release clause yet? And how valuable is Victor Osimhen? These are the questions I seek to explore.

Name	Victor Osimhen
Date of Birth	29 December 1998 (25 yrs)
Nationality	Nigerian
Position as a Player	Center Forward
Current Club	Napoli (Contract until 30 Jun 2026)
Former Club	Lille
Transfer Value	€120M
National Team	Nigeria

Osimhen: The Striker PSG, Arsenal and Chelsea Desperately Need?

Since the 2021-22 season, Kylian Mbappé has been PSG’s top scorer, consistently netting at least 27 goals per season in the French league, contributing to the club’s dominance. However, with his move to Real Madrid, PSG urgently needs a top-class striker to maintain their high-scoring output.

Victor Osimhen appears to be a strong candidate. He boasts an impressive average of 0.7 goals per game in Serie A, close to Mbappé’s 0.9 goals per game average in Ligue 1. At PSG, Osimhen could further improve his scoring output and fill the void left by Mbappé.

Chelsea also finds themselves in dire need of a prolific scorer, having struggled last season with poor finishing from their forwards, especially Nicolas Jackson. Acquiring a striker who can consistently deliver at least 20 goals a season could significantly improve Chelsea’s results. Osimhen’s clinical finishing abilities make him an ideal fit for the Blues.

Arsenal may also be in the running to sign Osimhen, as they need a top striker to compete with the prolific Erling Haaland. Over the past two seasons, Manchester City has outscored Arsenal by an average of 6-7 goals per season. Bringing in a forward of Osimhen’s calibre could help close this gap and enhance their attacking threat.

How Osimhen’s Skills Powered Napoli’s Success

After scoring 19 goals in the 18/19 season in the Belgian league, 20-year-old Osimhen transferred to Lille for €22.5 million. In his debut season at Lille, he scored 13 goals and provided four assists in 25 Ligue 1 appearances, quickly catching Napoli’s attention. The Italian club paid €75 million for Osimhen, a fee initially seen as an overpayment.

However, Napoli’s management recognized his potential as a top-tier striker. Osimhen is skilled at receiving passes and scoring in various ways, utilizing both his head and right foot. During his stint at Lille, the young Nigerian displayed exceptional athleticism, excelling in aerial duels and outpacing defenders during crosses into the penalty area.

In Ligue 1, Osimhen proved difficult to contain and could have increased his goal tally if his teammates had given him more opportunities.

At Napoli, despite missing 41 games due to injuries in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Osimhen capitalized on the opportunities created by his teammates, scoring 24 goals in 39 Serie A starts.

The 2022-23 season was Osimhen’s most successful yet. He started in 30 matches and scored an impressive 26 goals in Serie A, while also netting five goals in six Champions League matches. 

With minimal injury setbacks, Napoli dominated the Italian league. Osimhen consistently received great passes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, finding space behind defenders, excelling in aerial duels and ground duels, and adapting to teams defending with different strategies. 

He demonstrated his ability to score in almost every match.

Osimhen’s Injury Woes: A Major Hurdle for Top Striker Ambitions

While Victor Osimhen has shown remarkable potential, his performances against top clubs and injury record present significant concerns. 

When reviewing Osimhen’s stats, I noticed that he has only scored one goal against a top club, which was Barcelona. However, he has struggled to find the back of the net in matches against other elite teams such as Inter, Real Madrid, and Liverpool.

Additionally, Osimhen faced difficulties in duels against Antonio Rüdiger and Ronald Araújo in the Champions League. This could be partially attributed to Napoli’s underperformance in those matches, limiting the support Osimhen received from his teammates. Nevertheless, it raises questions about his ability to consistently outplay top defenders from clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Osimhen’s performance profile is somewhat similar to Erling Haaland’s, as both players tend to excel against mid-table and lower-ranked teams but often struggle in high-stakes matches against elite opposition.

Furthermore, Osimhen’s injury history is a major concern. Over the past five seasons, he has missed 86 matches due to various injuries. During the 23-24 season alone, he was unavailable for 15 games due to 6 different injuries.

Given these factors, relying on Osimhen as the team’s primary striker who will consistently feature in every match may be unrealistic. Instead, he should be considered a valuable asset who can contribute goals when fit but not the sole focal point of the team’s attacking strategy.

PSG is a Perfect Fit for Osimhen

At PSG, Osimhen can lead the attack with support from the creative Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. This setup means Osimhen will likely receive an abundance of quality deliveries from the flanks, potentially setting a new record for his seasonal efficiency.

In case of injury, PSG can turn to Randal Kolo Muani or Gonçalo Ramos for replacements. This depth in the squad ensures that PSG can still rely on Osimhen’s goals when he is fit.

At Chelsea, Osimhen would also benefit from strong support both on the flanks and from deeper positions. With playmakers like Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke, Osimhen would thrive alongside a creative midfield and wide players. With his top openings, Osimhen can create great passing opportunities for his partners.

However, his injury history raises concerns about his availability. Chelsea already 

contends with frequent injuries, and relying on Osimhen as a regular starter might exacerbate this issue. Additionally, Chelsea lacks an equivalent replacement for Osimhen, which would place more responsibility on him compared to PSG.

At Arsenal, the Nigerian forward might have difficulties in combining and maneuvering with his teammates. However, with a playmaker like Martin Ødegaard, there is potential to develop a fantastic partnership. Ødegaard’s vision and passing ability could complement Osimhen’s movement and finishing skills.

Is Investing in Osimhen Worth the Gamble?

Victor Osimhen is an exceptional center forward who, with appropriate support from creative teammates, has the potential to score in almost every match. He could significantly strengthen any European top club.

However, Osimhen has not consistently scored against top European clubs throughout his career, and his injury history remains a concern. This has led to Chelsea being unwilling to pay more than €100 million for him, while PSG is attempting to negotiate a substantial reduction in the transfer fee with Napoli.

In my view, paying more than €100 million for Osimhen only makes sense if the buying club has a clear and well-thought-out plan to keep him free from injury and maximize his impact in attack. Otherwise, spending over €100 million to acquire Osimhen could prove to be a major disappointment for his new club.