Osimhen's potential replacement : Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's Boniface should reject Napoli 

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker Victor Boniface has been linked with a move to Napoli.

The Serie A leaders have reportedly shown interest in the Nigerian striker as a possible replacement for  Victor Osimhen, who could be returning to the Ligue 1 or making a move to the Premier League this coming summer.  
​

Boniface has been in great form for Union SG this season, scoring 7 goals in 27 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League and netting 5 goals in 8 appearances in the Europa League.

This is the first stand-out season Boniface is having in Europe and that is why a move to Napoli this summer might be too soon for him.

The 22-year-old despite his stellar form in Union SG this season is yet to hit double figures in league goals in his career, he is still a developing player!

If Boniface moves to Napoli in the summer, he would be expected to hit the ground running quickly. Not only because he has to prove that he deserves to replace Osimhen, but also to help make sure that the likely Serie A winners start the season as well as possible.

​

These expectations might be too high for a young player whose game still needs some polishing and who is coming into a new league.

By joining Napoli, he will also have to contend for a place with more experienced strikers including Giovanni Simeone, whose loan deal might be made permanent at the end of the season.

The Hellas Verona loanee scored 17 league goals last season and is only lacking game time due to the exceptional form of Victor Osimhen and not because of his quality.

​

If he fails to hit the ground running quickly, Boniface will struggle for game time, particularly if Simeone starts the season in a rich vein of form.

​

It is this writer's opinion that Boniface should either stay with Union SG for one more season or move to a club where the expectation will be lower than Napoli and he will be given time to develop as a player.

​

In doing so, he will be taking a leaf from Osimhen's book who also had to leave Charleroi for Lille in the Ligue 1 before making a big money move to Napoli.

​

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com