Gary Lineker and Micah Richards both saw eye to eye on a missed Manchester United target who is a “top player” and a “sensational” talent on the pitch.
Manchester United have bolstered Ruben Amorim’s squad options this summer and Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have thrown their backing behind the Red Devils boss.
Ruben Amorim has already seen two major summer signings arrive through the doors at Old Trafford, with United landing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
The 40-year-old United manager has seen further squad depth added with the arrival of 18-year-old Paraguayan wonderkid Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno.
However, the Red Devils are still expected to have a busy window, including bringing in potential new signings and offloading players who are surplus to requirements.
The Premier League club have been linked with signing a new midfielder, a striker and a shot-stopper ahead of the summer transfer market closing in September.
READ MORE: Man Utd’s ‘very confident kid’ is tipped to flourish under Ruben Amorim, Rio Ferdinand names two standout features
Gary Lineker and pundits Danny Murphy, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer react ahead of the FA Cup semi-final match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in 2022 in London.
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
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Micah Richards makes a bold claim about Victor Osimhen after the former Man Utd target’s move to Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen was subject to Manchester United’s transfer radar this summer amid the Red Devils’ ongoing pursuit of a new striking option for Ruben Amorim.
The 26-year-old Nigerian striker spent last season out on loan at Galatasaray and Victor Osimhen impressed during his spell with the Super Lig champions.
Osimhen returned to Napoli in the summer after his loan spell expired on 30th June, but Galatasaray stepped up their pursuit of the forward and landed him in late July.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Micah Richards argued that Galatasaray summer signing Osimhen could have been a “top three No 9” in the Premier League.
“Osimhen signed a deal for four years at Galatasaray in Turkey. I can’t believe it,” he told co-host Gary Lineker.
“A top player like that should be playing… Galatasaray is a massive club but in terms of European football he could do better than that, in my opinion.
“He’d be a top three No 9 in the Premier League. Fact.
“Joao Pedro [who moved from Brighton to Chelsea] is unbelievable, but you cannot say he’s better than Osimhen. Not a chance.”
READ MORE: ‘Best in class’… Man Utd’s key ‘milestone’ is game-changing for every player, Omar Berrada makes prediction
Gary Lineker’s reaction to former Napoli ace Victor Osimhen signing for Galatasaray amid Man Utd’s transfer interest
Galatasaray confirmed the transfer of Victor Osimhen last month and the Turkish club agreed to pay a fee of £64.8m (€75m) to Serie A champions Napoli.
Lineker praised the former Napoli striker’s ability as a forward and said that Galatasaray’s marquee acquisition was “absolutely brilliant” for the Italian club.
“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester when they were in the Europa League,” he explained.
“He was so impressive and I’ve followed his career because of that. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli. I mean, he was sensational.”
Lineker added: “I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days.
“So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense.
“But whether that’s true or not, I wouldn’t confirm it. But that’s what someone that’s quite close to one or two big clubs and agents [has said].
“It does seem strange that he’s never ended up at one of the giants because talent-wise, wow.”
Galatasaray’s deal for ex-United target Osimhen included a 10 per cent sell-on clause for Napoli and the striker will earn a salary of €15m and a net loyalty bonus of €1m.