Patrice Evra Tells Manchester United to Sign Victor Osimhen as Top Transfer Priority This Summer

Manchester United icon Patrice Evra has delivered a direct message to manager Michael Carrick ahead of the summer transfer window, naming Nigeria international Victor Osimhen as his top target for the club.

Speaking to GOAL, Evra was unambiguous when asked to identify a single player he would want United to acquire. “Osimhen. I have all due respect for Galatasaray, the love he gets there, and what the player is like,” the former France left-back said. “Man United need a proper striker, and I have so much respect for the strikers at Man United, sometimes [Bryan] Mbuemo. But, back in the day, we had four amazing strikers, and if you want to play every competition, you need more strikers.”

Evra also acknowledged broader squad requirements beyond the striking position. “Of course, you need some defenders, like an extra left back, because you could have an injury and a right-back. Of course, Casemiro is leaving, so you need to replace those players. To name one player, I say Osimhen because I know these guys can make the difference.”

Osimhen, 27, currently leads the attack for Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray following his departure from Serie A club Napoli. The Nigerian forward has consistently been linked with a move to the Premier League over recent seasons, though no transfer has materialised to date. Reports continue to identify the English top flight as his most likely destination should he leave Istanbul.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with Osimhen, with reports suggesting the Blues remain interested in securing the striker’s services. According to reports, a potential move for Osimhen to Stamford Bridge could be influenced by Barcelona’s transfer activity, although the Spanish giants are considered unlikely to make a formal approach for the player.

Despite Manchester United already having Benjamin Sesko as a striking option, Evra’s assessment is that Osimhen represents a different calibre of forward — one capable of elevating the club’s ambitions across all competitions.

Osimhen has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in European football in recent years. During his time at Napoli, he was instrumental in the club’s 2022-23 Serie A title triumph — their first league championship in over three decades — finishing as one of the top scorers in Italy that season. His form has continued at Galatasaray, where he has maintained a high scoring rate following his loan move to Turkey.

With Casemiro’s expected exit adding further urgency to United’s recruitment plans, Evra’s comments underline the scale of the rebuild facing Carrick’s side. The window for significant transfer activity will open in the coming weeks, with United’s decisions in the market likely to define the early tone of the new campaign.