Following the highs of his debut campaign on the books of Bayer Leverkusen last season, Victor Boniface now finds himself an increasingly peripheral figure at the BayArena, having failed to break into the starting XI since his recent recovery from injury.
Emerging stories suggest the Nigerian is not taking the demotion from a starring role too well, with his malcontent reportedly poisoning the mood in Xabi Alonso's dressing room.
Consequently, it is now speculated that, should things not improve, Leverkusen would be willing to let Boniface go for a cut-price in the coming summer — but who would the prospective takers be?
Here are four options.
Newcastle United
The Magpies obviously do not have any immediate plans of bringing in a new starting striker, considering they have one of the best in the business, Alexander Isak, firing on all cylinders.
With bigger Premier League rivals coveting the Swede — despite the likelihood of Newcastle erecting a nine-figure-fee fence to ward off suitors — however, manager Eddie Howe and his employers may well be noting down the names of potential replacements.
If so, Boniface should be on that list of potential signings — not entirely improbable, given they have been linked in the past.
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique's team are on a roll, having more than survived the summer exit of Kylian Mbappe, the temporary (and possibly permanent) departure of Randal Kolo Muani in January, as well as Goncalo Ramos’ inconsistency.
The remarkable upturn in Ousmane Dembele's productivity has kept them cruising, but the Frenchman's profile — that of a winger with a notoriously poor injury record — means PSG need a more reliable presence upfront going forward.
If, for financial reasons, that cannot be Victor Osimhen (who they have pursued for a good while now), his compatriot and namesake Boniface represents a cheaper yet equally viable alternative.
Chelsea
Another club with Osimhen on its wishlist, Chelsea have not quite reaped the sort of output they had hoped for from striker Nicolas Jackson when they signed him from Villarreal in 2023.
A return of 26 goals in 68 games is hardly satisfactory. Although, the Senegalese extended his already lengthy contract with the club by two more years only last September, his failure to score for the Blues thus far this year may prompt the search for a striker to, at the very least, provide some competition and bolster Enzo Maresca's scoring options. Enter Boniface.
Manchester United
Manchester United’s forwards have struggled for consistency this season, leaving midfielder Bruno Fernandes as the club’s top scorer with 12 goals across all competitions.
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen, but his financial demands could pose a significant obstacle.
Given Boniface’s relatively lower valuation, United may see him as a more viable alternative and a calculated gamble worth considering.
