Lille Coach Provides Latest Update On Osimhen’s Future

Lille coach Christophe Galtier expects Victor Osimhen to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has been linked with various European clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham And Liverpool following his impressive debut season in France.

Serie A side Napoli are also interested in signing Osimhen who joined Lille last summer from Belgian  League club Sporting Charleroi.

Galtier believes Lille does not have the financial power to keep on to their stars when they are attracting interest from top clubs.

“The day I reason that we recruit players to train them for other clubs, it will not last more than 10-15 minutes with my president and Luis saying” it's time to stop”. People stay focused on “they buy for X; they sell for Y. The player arrives, he stays 18 months or 12 months, and then he leaves” but there is not a French club that may not sell except Paris Saint-Germain.

“Everyone else is forced to sell, and everyone else is like us. But they don't assume it. I am in this project there, with young players who come from all walks of life and I find that it is very fulfilling,” Galtier stated in an interview with Canal Plus.

” I expect Gabriel, Osimhen or even Ikoné to leave? Yes, I integrated them into the team. I don't want them to leave, but they will leave. I can't veto a player's departure, this is the project.”

Osimhen has wowed French League followers with his eye for goals and his ability to put pressure on defenders,

He scored 18 goals and recorded six assists in all competition including a memorable goal against Chelsea in a Uefa Champions League clash at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

He was voted the club's player of the year and also included in the French Ligue 1 team of the season. The Super Eagles striker also won the Ligue 1 player of the month award in October 2019.