Southampton keen on bringing Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to England in £20m deal

ENGLISH Premier League side Southampton have entered the race to sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen with a view to bringing him to England next season when his loan deal with Belgian side Charleroi expires in the summer.

Osimhen, 20, is the top goal scorer in Belgium's Jupiler Belgium this season with 15 goals and his hot form has begun to attract big clubs across Europe. Technically, he still belongs to German side Wolfsburg but several clubs like AC Milan are already on his case and now Southampton have joined the race.

 Last month, AC Milan reached a verbal agreement with Osimhen but wanted to send him on loan to French Ligue One side Lille for at least a year. Their decision to loan him to Lille was for him to get sufficient game time to aid his growth and the deal is expected to be rubber stamped in the summer, when his spell with Charleroi expires.

Charleroi are due compensation from Wolfsburg to pay for the option they have on signing him permanently after his loan spell expires. However, with Southampton now interested in signing the player and actually fielding him, that deal may be scrapped.

Southampton have identified the young forward as a player they need next season and are confident of him securing a work permit using the other means bar the number of appearances he has for the Super Eagles. A fee in the region of £20m has been quoted for the forward and the Saints will not be troubled by this as Osimhen is rumoured to be their top priority this summer.