The Nigeria international is already one of the most in demand strikers in Europe, but any plans to switch to the continent’s biggest clubs should be shelved until much later, according to Gerard Lopez.
Spanish investor and majority owner of Lille has asked the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham and Chelsea to look elsewhere for their attacking reinforcements as the French club has no intention of selling Victor Osimhen until the summer of 2021.
The La Liga champions and the 2019 Champions League finalists are believed to be leading the race to sign the Nigerian international. 2019 Europa League winners Chelsea have also been mooted to be planning to swoop for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner.
Osimhen has been in scintillating form for Lille since joining Les Dogues for £12 million in the summer. The 20-year-old smashed 20 goals in just 36 games for Sporting Charleroi before making the switch to France. He has continued that incredible scoring streak in Lille as he has found the back of the net 13 times for Christophe Galtier’s side in all competitions.
With several clubs presently circling round Osimhen to swoop for the Super Eagles target man, Lille’s owner Lopez revealed the club’s model does not permit for the sale of their prized asset any time soon.
“Whoever says our model is only about selling hasn’t looked at the numbers,” Gerard Lopez told ESPN.
“Guys like Yusuf Yazici, Renato Sanches and Victor Osimhen are guys we want to keep not for one year, but hopefully for two or three.”
Soccernernet also reported the Nigerian youngster’s transfer value has more than doubled since he signed for Les Dogues in June. Osimhen still has four-and-a-half years left on a five-year deal he signed with Lille in 2019.