Pranav Nair
Gary Lineker urges Victor Osimhen to choose Arsenal over Manchester United
Football pundit Gary Lineker has weighed in on the potential move of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to the Premier League, suggesting that if the Nigerian forward considers a move, Arsenal would qualify as the ideal destination for him over Manchester United and Chelsea. Lineker believes that Arsenal, in their current form, sit just a quality centre-forward away from challenging for trophies, making them a strong choice for Osimhen.
The 25-year-old Osimhen has been the subject of transfer speculation, with reports linking him to several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has acknowledged (via Metro) that Osimhen is likely to move at the end of the season, despite having a contract with the Italian club until 2026 (Transfermarkt).
Lineker’s analysis focuses on the potential destinations for Osimhen and how each club’s current situation aligns with the Nigerian striker’s aspirations. According to Lineker, Arsenal stands out as a club that is just a quality center-forward away from being genuine title contenders. This perspective contrasts with Chelsea, whom Lineker sees as needing more than just a striker to regain competitiveness, and Manchester United, who he believes still have a long way to go to improve.
Here is what he had to say on The Rest Is Football podcast via Metro:
‘I would say, Arsenal are probably a centre-forward away from winning things. ‘Chelsea are a centre-forward away from becoming competitive again. Manchester United are a centre-forward away from improving, but they’ve still got a long way to go. If I were him, you want to go somewhere where you think you’re going to win things.’
The former England striker suggests that Osimhen should consider joining a club where he believes he can win trophies. While reports indicate that Chelsea is Osimhen’s preferred destination, Lineker’s viewpoint highlights the importance of assessing each club’s current status and potential for success.
No Osimhen, then?
For sure, eighth on the Premier League charts does not scream greatness but what Chelsea (ninth) have over the Red Devils from that perspective is a core of young players who are almost bound to win big things in the coming years and for sure.
To be fair to Lineker, Man United seem like a club who are far from contending for a title. There will come loads of calls for consistency and the upcoming summer window will be the first one under new owners albeit part. Let’s see what their approach to the football side of things at United is.
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Also, we have Rasmus Hojlund, the new-age Lionel Messi, the new Cristiano Ronaldo, the better form of Erling Haaland and the reincarnation of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goalscoring ability all in one. If Osimhen joins United, what would happen to the goal net’s biggest threat? Time will tell all. While results are surely uncertain, what Osimhen would surely bring to Man United is victor(y), at least in his name.
