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‘He knows what he wants’: Odion Ighalo shares Victor Osimhen verdict amid Manchester United transfer interest

Manchester United are looking for a new striker, and many fans would love to see Victor Osimhen arrive at Old Trafford.

Rasmus Hojlund left Manchester United fans encouraged by his first season at Old Trafford.

United signed Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023, and the Dane racked up 16 goals in his first campaign.

Sadly, the 22-year-old suffered a crisis of confidence last season and ended the season with just 10 goals, only four coming in the Premier League.

Hojlund is now wanted by Napoli, and United could cash in on the striker this summer.

Ruben Amorim will surely fancy adding another striker this summer, with the search on for the right man.

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen in action against Angola.

Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Odion Ighalo on Manchester United-linked Victor Osimhen

Viktor Gyokeres is one name which just won’t go away, and the same goes for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

United hold genuine interest in signing Osimhen, who spent last season on loan at Galatasaray.

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Napoli are keen to sell Osimhen and the Nigerian is interested in a move to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old is a proven goalscorer, smashing 113 goals in his last five seasons across spells in Italy and Türkiye.

Rio Ferdinand wants Osimhen to join United, and former Red Devils forward Odion Ighalo has now offered his view on the striker’s future.

Speaking to News Central TV, Ighalo suggested that ‘it’s impossible’ to name the best strikers in the world without bringing up Osimhen’s name.

Ighalo believes Osimhen’s situation is ‘not easy’ because of all the conversation around his future, but believes the striker is ‘mentally strong’.

Osimhen and Ighalo even spent time together a few days ago, with Ighalo left convinced that Osimhen ‘knows what he wants’ from his next move.

Ighalo is willing to offer advice to Osimhen if he wants it, with United fans surely hoping he ushers him towards Old Trafford.

“For me, in the world today, you can’t mention two strikers without his name. It’s impossible. He’s doing so well,” said Ighalo.

“We underrate our own; that’s the problem in Africa. We underrate our own African players and potentials, but if you want to search the world now for a proper goalscorer, tell me two or three, a true number nine, a centre forward and goalscorer. Search the world now for two or three, you’ll mention his name.

“It’s not easy because agents are calling every day, people are talking, the media and all of that, but I think Victor is mentally strong, because he has gone through challenges in his life, even at his age, and he has overcome them. He knows what he wants. We were together two days ago, but we didn’t talk about football; we just had fun.

“I believe he knows what he wants; he’s a grown-up guy now, he’s worked hard to be where he is today, so he knows what he wants. If he calls me for my opinion, I will tell him, but whatever decision he makes, it’s a win-win for him,” he added.

"We underate our own African players and potential, but if you want to search the world now for a proper goal scorer…you will mention his name…I think Victor is mentally strong…"

Ex-Nigeria international @ighalojude praises Victor Osimhen as one of the world's best… pic.twitter.com/ZRHHviqdF2

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) June 24, 2025

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Ighalo says he and Osimhen didn’t speak about football, but no mention of United’s interest would be a surprise.

In fact, Ighalo has previously admitted that he would tell Osimhen to join United in order to join ‘the biggest club’.

Speaking in 2023, Ighalo admitted wanting Osimhen to join United, a wish that surely still lives within Ighalo.

“If Victor Osimhen asked me what he should do, I would tell him to go to Manchester United because, for me, it is the biggest club,” said Ighalo.

United may need to offload some players before launching a move for Osimhen, but he is the kind of transformative talent United should focus on signing if he is prepared to join without European football.

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