Heading into the 2024-25 season, Paris Saint-Germain must figure out a way to replace the scoring efficiency of Kylian Mbappé, who is now a member of Real Madrid’s squad.
Not only is Mbappé PSG’s all-time leading scorer, but last season, he recorded 27 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances and eight goals in 12 UEFA Champions League appearances. Replacing Mbappé won’t be as easy as finding games on Mr Vegas games, but there is one striker who could step in and lead the PSG attack.
Since his breakout 2022-23 season with Napoli, Victor Osimhen has been linked with a move to PSG. In that season, Osimhen recorded 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances and five goals in six Champions League appearances. He led Napoli to the Serie A title, and clubs around Europe took note.
Napoli finished 10 in the table last season, but Osimhen still scored 15 goals in Serie A. However, given Napoli’s financial restrictions and preference to keep Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the time has apparently come for Napoli to entertain offers for Osimhen.
The 25-year-old has a reported €130 million release clause, but Napoli will have to settle for significantly less. For the transfer to make sense for PSG, they likely won’t go much higher than €100 million, as that’s roughly the transfer fee the reigning French champions will get for Xavi Simons.
Signing Osimhen isn’t the solution to all of PSG’s issues; they’ll also have to make room for him in the squad. Currently, PSG can play Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos as strikers. A lot was expected from Kolo Muani following his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, but he only managed to score 6 goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances. Ramos, in mostly substitution appearances, scored 11 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances, and he’s a couple of years younger, making him the likely candidate to remain if Osimhen makes the move to PSG with Kolo Muani moving on.
It’s been reported that Osimhen would prefer a move to the Premier League, but a return to Ligue 1 can’t be ruled out. Osimhen spent a season at Lille before his transfer to Napoli in 2020. During that season, Osimhen scored 13 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances for Les Dogues.
So, should PSG sign Osimhen? My opinion is a resounding yes. Serie A and Ligue 1 are known for being defensive, and he has proven that he can score in both. He also brings name recognition to a club that may not be in need of a superstar, but a recognizable star would help with marketing the league. If PSG can sign Osimhen, and then perhaps move Kolo Muani to the wing, they may get much better without having to lose any quality.