Rio Ferdinand believes that Victor Osimhen is ‘waiting’ for Manchester United to come in with an offer for him this summer.
The Nigeria star looked to be close to joining Al-Hilal from Napoli after spending the season on loan with Galatasaray and pipping Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce side to the Super Lig crown.
However reports suggest that the move to the Saudi Pro League is now off, leaving him once again back to square one seemingly.
Meanwhile, United are looking to continue their summer rebuild after completing the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves last month. The Red Devils, who endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign last term, have been working on a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.
Even with those two additions, signing a No 9 is still a priority, given the confidence and quality issues that plagued Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season.
Ferdinand believes that the perfect man for the job is Osimhen, who is understood to have a release clause of £64million.
‘No.9, they already know who I want,’ he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. ‘The comments know, the people know who I want, who I would go and get: Osimhen!
‘It looks like he’s turned down Al-Hilal… he must be waiting for Manchester United.
‘I don’t know if Manchester United are going to come. That’s the problem.’
Ruben Amorim’s men have also been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has a stunning record in Portugal since his arrival two years ago.
But his 54 goals and 12 assists in 52 matches don’t appear to have impressed the United legend much. Ferdinand shared his view that the Swedish striker is ‘not the guy’ for the Old Trafford club.
‘I don’t think he’s the guy,’ said Ferdinand on his podcast earlier this month. ‘I’ve not watched him loads [but] I’ve watched him probably three times really, really closely.
‘And three times I’ve gone, “He ain’t getting that opportunity in the Prem”. When I see him physically matched, what else is there?
‘Is there enough – after he’s physically matched – to get him a goal?’
Gyokeres has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his Sporting contract, but he is understood to have reached a gentleman’s agreement with the club at the start of the season over a reduced asking price.
The forward was promised that he could leave Sporting this summer for €60m (£51m), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons, to take the overall transfer fee down to £59m.
However, according to Portuguese outlet Record, Sporting’s board are now seeking in the region of €80m (£67m) before allowing Gyokeres to move on.
He is believed to be livid with Sporting’s U-turn and feels they have failed to deliver on their promise to him.
