Osimhen is expected to be a part of the team that will face Ghana in the double-header World Cup qualifier coming up later this month
By Kehinde Okeowo
La Liga leaders Real Madrid have set their eyes on Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as a possible replacement for the prolific Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland.
According to Mundo Deportivo, The Los Blancos have identified the Super Eagles player as an alternative to Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland.
Osimhen became a top priority for the Spanish giant after they became unsure about their ability to bring in Haaland this summer.
The Nigerian is valued at €80m by Napoli. He’s scored ten goals in the 21 games he’s played for the Southern Italian club so far this season, despite missing almost two months of action because of a cheekbone injury he sustained in November 2021.
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Osimhen’s career began at Wolfsburg before spells with Charleroi and Lille, who Napoli signed him from. They want to keep him but they are preparing for the eventuality should he leave.
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain is Madrid’s number one target this summer but they’d like to bring in another centre-forward as well as the Frenchman.
Their current number nine is Karim Benzema, but he isn’t getting any younger and there isn’t really a viable alternative at the Santiago Bernabeu at the moment. Osimhen would therefore be an asset
A host of European clubs are battling to sign the Super Eagles striker, two of which are Premier League outfits, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Osimhen was also missed by Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, when he was denied the opportunity of playing at the tournament by his club, because of injury and covid-19.
He is however expected to be part of the team that will face Ghana in the double-header World Cup qualifier coming up later this month.
