English football veteran and Premier League pundit Joe Cole has opined Victor Osimhen is gradually falling off the pecking order among top-level young strikers with promising careers.
Speaking with TNT, Cole, who was regarded as one of the most gifted English footballers of his generation, said the Nigerian and Napoli sensation is losing his bearings in the scheme of things when compared with other young strikers in Europe who would make waves in the nearest future.
The former Chelsea, Liverpool, and West Ham player said Osimhen did raise his game last season but is wide off the mark this season.
Joe Cole told TNT Sports the 25-year-old is down the pecking order as he listed names of players he feels will be the next big thing in football.
“Osimhen was the one this time last year. Everyone was looking at and then he’s fallen off a little bit,” Cole said.
On young strikers who are more likely to rule the game in the nearest, Cole identified Manchester United's £72m summer signing from Atalanta Rasmus Hojlund and Juventus and Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic. He also added Liverpool start Darwin Nunez to the list
“Rasmus Hojlund I think has got a chance. I think one or two of them will emerge out of that group.”
“Dusan Vlahovic is very good technically and a good finisher. Darwin Nunez does unbelievably well with his all-round game and he needs to brush up on that side, he said.
Cole's projections on the prospects of the four young strikers may be subject to debates as usual. However, the stats seem to point in the affirmative.
Since breaking his duck with Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund is the hottest young striker in Europe in 2024. He has scored 8 Premier League goals in six consecutive Premier League matches for Manchester United.
The Dane became the youngest Premier League player to score in six consecutive Premier League games after finding the back of the net against Luton Town at the weekend.
Dusan Vlahovic is also in red-hot form with Juventus in Serie A, scoring 13 goals with 3 assists in his 22 Serie A appearances. Darwin Nunez has 12 goals with 11 assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
Unlike last season when he led the charge for Napoli's Serie A title victory, Osimhen seems to have fallen off the mark this season. A short injury setback reducing his minutes and Napoli's slack this season, has taken a toll on the Osimhen's overall output for the Neapolitans.
He has scored 7 goals in 13 Serie A matches for the Azzurri with his Champions League goals taking his total tally for the club to 9 goals.
The PSG and Chelsea target did put up an impressive performance for the Super Eagles in the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations but struggled in front of goals.
Cole's assertion may hold true but Osimhen cannot be written off. The African Footballer of The Year returned with a bang for Napoli after his AFCON deadlock, scoring the equaliser against Barcelona in Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Speaking with TNT, Cole, who was regarded as one of the most gifted English footballers of his generation, said the Nigerian and Napoli sensation is losing his bearings in the scheme of things when compared with other young strikers in Europe who would make waves in the nearest future.
The former Chelsea, Liverpool, and West Ham player said Osimhen did raise his game last season but is wide off the mark this season.
Joe Cole told TNT Sports the 25-year-old is down the pecking order as he listed names of players he feels will be the next big thing in football.
“Osimhen was the one this time last year. Everyone was looking at and then he’s fallen off a little bit,” Cole said.
On young strikers who are more likely to rule the game in the nearest, Cole identified Manchester United's £72m summer signing from Atalanta Rasmus Hojlund and Juventus and Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic. He also added Liverpool start Darwin Nunez to the list
“Rasmus Hojlund I think has got a chance. I think one or two of them will emerge out of that group.”
“Dusan Vlahovic is very good technically and a good finisher. Darwin Nunez does unbelievably well with his all-round game and he needs to brush up on that side, he said.
Cole's projections on the prospects of the four young strikers may be subject to debates as usual. However, the stats seem to point in the affirmative.
Since breaking his duck with Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund is the hottest young striker in Europe in 2024. He has scored 8 Premier League goals in six consecutive Premier League matches for Manchester United.
The Dane became the youngest Premier League player to score in six consecutive Premier League games after finding the back of the net against Luton Town at the weekend.
Dusan Vlahovic is also in red-hot form with Juventus in Serie A, scoring 13 goals with 3 assists in his 22 Serie A appearances. Darwin Nunez has 12 goals with 11 assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
Unlike last season when he led the charge for Napoli's Serie A title victory, Osimhen seems to have fallen off the mark this season. A short injury setback reducing his minutes and Napoli's slack this season, has taken a toll on the Osimhen's overall output for the Neapolitans.
He has scored 7 goals in 13 Serie A matches for the Azzurri with his Champions League goals taking his total tally for the club to 9 goals.
The PSG and Chelsea target did put up an impressive performance for the Super Eagles in the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations but struggled in front of goals.
Cole's assertion may hold true but Osimhen cannot be written off. The African Footballer of The Year returned with a bang for Napoli after his AFCON deadlock, scoring the equaliser against Barcelona in Champions League quarterfinal first leg.