What Now For Victor Osimhen At Lille After Champions League No-show For Next Season?

Victor Osimhen and Lille have seen their chances of playing Champions League football next season snuffed out after the French Ligue 1 was ended abruptly yesterday, and their placement on the league table decided, meaning they finish only as far as a Europa League place.

While it might not all be doom and gloom for the Super Eagles striker on an individual front, considering that he is all but set to debut in the secondary competition provided he sticks around the Stade Pierre-Mauroy by the time next season rolls around, this could perhaps be the moment he evaluates the best and solid options that comes his way.

At the moment, Osimhen is undoubtedly courted by almost all of the top clubs in Europe, and this summer promises to see a number of them flex their muscles in the bidding war which is highly likely to ensue.

His skill-set is one that will benefit Premier League suitors, with his tendency to outwit opposition defenders as well as match marking full-backs for pace has shown he has all the trappings of becoming a star in English football.

18 goals in 38 competitive appearances across all competitions for Les Dogues in his debut season do not precisely tell the whole story, with his performances and goals proving instrumental in winning a lot of vital points for the club last term.

Put into context, only Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder (18), Paris Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappé (18) and Moussa Dembélé scored more than his tally of 13 goals in the top flight while he also had four assists to boot.

It is a foregone conclusion that the talented youngster is sure to bring his talent to bear in the Europa, but will he snub the plethora of admirers waiting on the wings to snap him up, all for a romance with the less-fancied tournament?

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter, Milan, Tottenham, Leicester City are just a few of the clubs who have been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old and with a number of them well placed to offer him Champions League football, he will do well to consider concrete offers from any of these ones.

He can take a cue from the likes of Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba [who he has of course earned comparisons with] who joined Premier League side Chelsea on the back of their impressive seasons in the French top flight.

After all, despite Lille's short stint in the Champions League this season, he did well to prove his mettle scoring against Chelsea and Valencia in the first round of games.

This summer could just be right for one of the most talented young strikers in Europe to take the next bold step in his fledgling career.