Victor Osimhen remains one of the most prolific strikers in European football, but the path to his Premier League dream is increasingly paved with financial roadblocks rather than footballing doubts, Soccernet.ng reports.
Liverpool have emerge as frontrunners in the race to sign the Nigerian, but the newly crowned Premier League champions are in the race for a player also admired by their biggest rivals.
It is clear why the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal are unwilling — or unable — to match what it would take to secure Osimhen's signature. But are the Reds ready to succeed where others have struggled?
Osimhen, 26, is widely admired for his goal-scoring pedigree. With 147 goals in 261 games across his career — including an eye-catching 33 in 37 appearances during a loan spell at Galatasaray this season — the Super Eagles striker has proven his credentials at the highest level.
Liverpool’s interest in him stretches back to his time at Lille, and with the club now reportedly putting together a £200m summer war chest, the idea of Osimhen leading the line at Anfield is gathering momentum.
Saudi Pro League clubs are planning on making big moves in the summer, with approaches being considered for Bruno Fernandes, Jack Grealish and Victor Osimhen.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 7, 2025
(Source: @SkyKaveh) pic.twitter.com/HfboEMG1qQ
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But it’s not the transfer fee — modest by current standards at €75m (£64m) — that has kept Europe’s biggest clubs at bay. It’s the salary.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Osimhen is seeking a guaranteed weekly wage of around £250,000. By elite footballer standards, especially for a striker in his prime, it’s not outrageous. However, that figure is enough to scare off even the Premier League’s deepest pockets.
Chelsea, for instance, won’t go near that number. The Blues have carefully constructed a wage structure that places even club captain Reece James at just under £140,000 per week. Star names like Enzo Fernandez, Moisés Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson all earn below £100,000 net per week. Breaking that structure for Osimhen is not something the club hierarchy is prepared to do.
Over at Manchester United, the story is similar. While Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Mason Mount are among the club's highest earners, none receive guaranteed weekly wages north of £200,000. It's a major factor in why the Red Devils are focusing on other striker targets — despite vocal endorsements from club legends like Rio Ferdinand.
Victor Osimhen: Can Liverpool break the mold where Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal have stalled?
Arsenal, too, are backing away. The Gunners have five players — Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey — who earn between £110,000 and £160,000 net per week.
Osimhen’s proposed salary would put him top of the list and risk unsettling their carefully managed wage bill. As a result, Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal board appear to have placed their focus elsewhere in the transfer market.
That leaves Liverpool.
The Reds are in a unique position. Mohamed Salah’s recent contract extension has seen him earn £220,000 a week, while captain Virgil van Dijk takes home £192,000 per week. Osimhen’s demand would see him become the highest earner at the club, but only marginally. And with Darwin Nunez expected to be sold, there’s space — and budget — for a new talisman.
A recent Teamtalk report suggests that manager Arne Slot has been handed a rare opportunity: a historic transfer window and the funds to reshape Liverpool’s attacking identity. With other top targets like Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres seen as financially trickier due to release clauses and club valuations, Osimhen’s availability at a discounted price — and with a clear desire to move to the Premier League — makes him an increasingly attractive proposition.
The striker himself is said to be keen. Napoli, his parent club, are eager to sell with just one year left on his contract. The Reds have monitored him for years. Now, with minimal competition, the stars may finally be aligning.
Still, the final hurdle remains. “Osimhen’s salary demands are not outrageous,” Ben Jacobs insists. But in the era of strict wage structures and long-term financial strategies, they are certainly inconvenient.
As Liverpool weigh their next move, one question hangs in the air: will they push the boundaries and back Slot to do what Klopp never could — bring Osimhen to Anfield?
