Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has advised his old club to prioritise signing Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen over Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres this summer.
According to Mirror Football, Ferdinand stressed the need for a proven centre-forward to solve Manchester United’s goalscoring struggles after netting just 44 Premier League goals in the 2024/25 season.
The team’s current forwards, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, scored just four and three league goals, respectively. Ferdinand believes their lack of experience contributed to United’s poor attacking output.
“I think Hojlund’s lack of experience has been a big factor,” Ferdinand said. “I think if I’m looking at the market now and I had to pick him or Osimhen, I’d probably pick Osimhen because of that experience.”
Ferdinand praised Osimhen’s consistent scoring record across Europe’s top leagues and on the international stage, adding that his arrival could help develop younger players like Hojlund, Zirkzee, and Chido Obi.
Although Gyokeres impressed with 39 league goals for Sporting, Ferdinand insists Osimhen would offer the leadership United currently lack in attack.
Osimhen recently turned down a £63 million offer from Al-Hilal, underlining his intention to join a Premier League side. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Juventus are reportedly monitoring his situation, but Napoli’s valuation may pose a challenge.
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Article updated 4 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
