Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has admitted it is his “dream” to play in the Premier League as Manchester United continue to work on his signing this summer.
Signing a central striker is a priority for United boss Erik ten Hag this summer and the Nigerian international heads the club’s striking shortlist. Osimhen has bagged 21 goals and counting for Napoli this season, as they aim to end their 33-year wait for a title.
The 24-year-old has formed a formidable attacking understanding with Georgian attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and he has spearheaded an attack which has bagged 58 league goals and leads Serie A by 15 points with 13 rounds of action remaining.
Three other strikers are believed to have been approved by Ten Hag for United to pursue, with a priority on signing a striker this summer. Wout Weghorst's loan deal expires at the end of the campaign and Anthony Martial is also expected to depart Old Trafford following another injury-blighted season.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane is an established long-term target, although he may opt to renew his contract in North London, while there is great admiration for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus, whom Ten Hag coached at Ajax.
However, Osimhen is believed to be their primary target due to his age profile and his openness to a move to the Premier League, which was confirmed by his comments made after being named 'Best Foreign Athlete of the Year' by the Italian Foreign Press Association.
Osimhen said: "I think playing in one of the top five leagues in the world is an amazing feeling for me. A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I'm in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.
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"I'm working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League someday but as I said, it's a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well."
Interest from the Premier League in Osimhen pre-dated his move to Napoli in 2020 when he bagged 18 goals in the 2019-20 campaign for Lille - with Tottenham and Chelsea previously linked with a move. He has gone from strength to strength since his move to Italian football and is now regarded as among the best strikers in the world.
With Weghorst and Martial potentially moving on from Old Trafford at the end of the campaign, only Marcus Rashford – who prefers to play from the left of an attack – is a recognised senior central striker in United’s squad, with the need for investment in the position clear.
