Victor Osimhen: How Cherki’s Man City transfer explains why Nigerian striker may never play in the EPL

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been consistently linked with several top clubs in recent years, but none of the talk has materialized, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Over the last four years, Osimhen has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe. He won the Scudetto with Napoli three years ago, emerging as the league’s highest goalscorer.

​Since then, his stock has risen significantly. He has been linked with top sides like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea. However, he ultimately joined Galatasaray last summer.

​Still, the speculation has not materialized. Part of the problem is that Galatasaray are unwilling to part ways with the Nigerian. Even if they were open to doing so, they could demand up to €150 million.

Additionally, Osimhen commands high wages that would automatically make him the highest earner at clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.

​Now, while these are practical obstacles, clubs are often willing to overcome them if they truly believe in a player. But a recent video revealing Manchester City’s process for signing Rayan Cherki from Lyon explains why elite sides might hesitate to go the extra mile.

​How Rayan Cherki’s Signing Process Relates to Victor Osimhen

​Last summer, Manchester City paid Lyon €36.5 million for French midfielder Rayan Cherki. That transfer was a steal, as Cherki was coming off a season where he had registered 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. He had shown real brilliance on the ball and was just 22.

​Yet, that transfer easily might not have happened. In a recent video highlighting the due diligence behind Cherki’s signing at Manchester City, it is clear that top clubs look far beyond mere statistics, goal involvements, and on-pitch results.

​They also evaluate a player’s character, relationships with teammates, background, and personal life. While initial concerns existed regarding Cherki’s attitude, City ultimately proceeded with the deal after consulting his former coaches.

​Watch Video

The metrics used on the software to identify Cherki as KDB's replacement.

The concerns about his attitude that had Hugo and Txiki contacting four different coaches to assess his mentality (one of them gave a bad report).

The voice note exchange between Ferran and Khaldoon… pic.twitter.com/26TxhWGavg

— Geronimo Morgans (@GeronimoMorgans) August 19, 2026

​In Osimhen’s case, his quality on the pitch is undeniable. He is a fighter, a team player, and gives his all throughout 90 minutes. While injuries have occasionally interrupted his momentum, he has demonstrated a rare ability to hit the ground running right after returning from the sidelines. These traits firmly cement him among the top ten marksmen in the world.

​However, one major issue that has trailed him throughout his career is his temperament. Osimhen maintains strong relationships with his close friends and actively supports his inner circle.

​Yet, occasional bouts of anger on and off the pitch have frequently put him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The most prominent incident was his heated social media outburst against former Super Eagles coach Finidi George in 2024, where he reacted aggressively to unverified reports.

​Also, since his move to Galatasaray, Osimhen has repeatedly found himself embroiled in altercations with opponents. While physical clashes happen in football, the forward occasionally crosses the line; standard disagreements should rarely escalate to the point where multiple teammates must physically restrain a player.

​Osimhen finds himself in these high-friction situations more often than is wise. Although he has avoided physical violence, the optics are damaging.

​During pre-season, Villarreal manager Íñigo Pérez publicly criticized Osimhen’s behavior following a friendly against Galatasaray, openly claiming that the striker had attacked his player.

​Elite clubs now operate with extreme caution, where the finest margins dictate multi-million-euro investments. Although no player is entirely without flaws or baggage, European giants, more especially Premier League side, committing record-breaking transfer fees and mega wages demand complete confidence in both talent and person conduct.