Victor Osimhen tendency may show why Erik ten Hag prefers Harry Kane at Manchester United

Harry Kane is Erik ten Hag’s number one Manchester United transfer target this summer, although there are other names on the wish list if needed.

The likes of Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani and Mohamed Kudus of Ajax make the cut while 25-goal Benfica star Goncalo Ramos and Atalanta bright spark Rasmus Hojlund are also of interest.

But perhaps the standout name among the fall-back options is Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen. The 24-year-old is Serie A’s top scorer with 21 goals, is young and pacey, and is about to win the Italian title.

READ MORE: Victor Osimhen gives Napoli injury update

Kane, due to turn 30 in the summer, has never won a trophy and is neither young nor pacey. Furthermore, he might not be playing in the Champions League next season should he stay at Tottenham with the club currently in fifth.

Napoli are poised to embark on their quarter-final bout with AC Milan in the competition this week, the latter knocking Spurs out in the previous round. However, Osimhen may not feature.

The Nigeria international is currently nursing a leg abductor injury which has seen him miss the last two league games – one of which saw Napoli get thumped 4-0 by Milan. He recently told one of the club’s fans that his latest knock isn’t anything major but it’s the latest in a concerning trend for the attacker.

Osimhen is seen wearing a face-mask to protect his cheekbones following a horrific freak collision with teammate Milan Skriniar in November 2021 that left him needing hospital treatment. He has thankfully recovered and the incident can be put down to pure bad luck.

But that aside, Osimhen has endured five other separate injuries in the past three seasons. Kane has had just two setbacks and astonishingly none at all in the last two campaigns, including the current one. In fact, the England captain has played all but one game for club and country this term.

It’s a remarkable feat for any top-flight player and further underlines the obvious adage that Kane is used to the rough-and-tumble of the English game. He would need no bedding in process at United and is a guaranteed goal-getter, just what Ten Hag needs.

Osimhen – according to international teammate Alex Iwobi – has an interest in the Premier League but, of course, has never played in it. He is yet to be tested against the bulky defenders of the division on a weekly basis, albeit has two goals in four matches against English sides.

Furthermore, with the Premier League being more physical, there could be a concern about the long-term resilience of Osimhen, who admittedly still has a number of years of development ahead of him.

But the last thing United boss Ten Hag needs is another Anthony Martial situation where his main striker is persistently found on the physio table. Along with scoring talents, injury records could be another reason why the tested and reliable Kane is preferred to Osimhen.

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