Why Victor Osimhen has already rejected the Premier League amid Manchester United interest

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has previously turned down approaches from Premier League clubs amid Manchester United's interest in the striker's signature.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News , the 23-year-old, who has netted nine goals in 13 matches this season, is of interest to the Reds as they draw up a long list of targets to become the new face of their forward line next year. The club is desperate to add a new striker to its ranks and Osimhen is one of several options under consideration.

The Nigerian, who helped Napoli win their Champions League group recently, setting up a last-16 tie with Eintracht Frankfurt, is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. He scored 18 goals in 32 games last season and has started this term in similarly impressive fashion.

Since joining Napoli from French club Lille in July 2020 for a big-money fee, the Nigerian international has gone from strength-to-strength, scoring 37 goals and registering 12 assists in 75 games. The Italians were alerted to Osimhen's qualities after he bagged 18 goals in 38 games for Lille in 2019/20.

Napoli, however, were not the only interested party, as revealed by Osimhen himself. Clubs in England also expressed an interest in his signature, understandably after such a fruitful campaign, but he chose to move to Italy instead, picking the Serie A outfit because he felt they were the club to support his career ambitions best.

"Many predicted I will move to the EPL, and I had a lot of interesting offers from some clubs," Osimhen told CAFOnline in September 2020. "But Napoli was the best choice for me.

"It was so because of the kind of player I want to be in the future, and the kind of great career I want to have. I have no doubt that Napoli is the club I need to achieve that greater height.

"The relationship between me and the coach and President (Aurelio De Laurentiis) is a very interesting one, because even before I came to Napoli, I spoke with both. They convinced me even more to sign for Napoli.

"The relationship is going very well, and I just want to repay them on the pitch for the trust they have in me."

Osimhen, of course, has since developed even further, justifying his thinking two years ago. However, although his status in European football has changed since then, it could mean that he is still reluctant to move to the Premier League as soon as next year.

He is on a steep upwards trajectory in Naples, meaning it would take a huge offer from United to convince the Italians into letting go of one of their star assets.