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Victor Osimhen Is Tearing Serie A Apart, And European Clubs Are Noticing

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Victor Osimhen is undoubtedly the face of Napoli’s domination in Serie A this season, the player that is leading the Partenopei’s pursuit of their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Osimhen’s outstanding goal-scoring statistics have not gone unnoticed to the eyes of Europe's wealthiest clubs, who have reportedly entered a race to sign him in the next transfer window.

Osimhen, 24, joined Napoli in the summer of 2020 from Ligue 1 side Lille for a €70 million transfer fee (at today’s exchange rate, $75m), becoming the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

A 6-foot-1 center-forward, Osimhen stands out for his ability to score from any position inside the penalty box: Not coincidentally, all of his 16 goals in this Serie A campaign originated from inside the 18-yard area.

While he is lethal at finishing with both feet, Osimhen has a dominant aerial presence, as demonstrated by his five winning headers this season. This category includes his most recent goal against Spezia, when he showcased all his athleticism by jumping 8 feet and 46 inches high to beat the opponent’s goalkeeper to a high ball.

On top of his 0.94 goal-per-game ratio in Serie A, the Nigeria international has also served three assists to his Napoli teammates, thus ranking first in Italy’s Serie A for goal contributions.

Osimhen’s prolific goal-scoring rate has certainly benefited from Napoli’s attack-minded soccer brand, a trait of Luciano Spalletti’s coaching style.

In Napoli’s 4-3-3 system, Osimhen has in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Matteo Politano and Hirving Lozano quality wingers that can deliver pinpoint crosses but also combine with quick, short combinations that have proven successful even against some of Italy’s most organized defenses.

Osimhen is currently on a €4.5 million/year ($4.8m) wage, according to Calcio e Finanza estimates. While it is the largest paycheck on Napoli’s roster, there is a huge discrepancy with the salaries normally granted to strikers at top-rated European clubs.

This factor contributes to making Osimhen a very attractive target for Europe’s wealthiest sides, who will likely compete against each other to try signing him in the next transfer window. Aside from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, English Premier League powerhouses Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly interested in Osimhen and will keep his performances monitored for the remainder of the season.

Should Osimhen’s output on the field remain consistent, it would be unrealistic for any club to snatch him from Napoli for less than a €100 million ($107m) transfer fee, especially considering that his current deal ties him to the Partenopei until 2025.

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