Victor Osimhen has been tipped by former Chelsea Legend, Gianfranco Zola, to be Lukaku’s heir in coming years.
The Nigerian international who joined Napoli last summer in a big money move from Lille has impressed the Blues legend, Zola, and he has tipped him as Romelu Lukaku’s replacement.
Zola, a former Chelsea striker who dominated the football scenes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thinks that the former Nigerian U-23 striker has got what it takes to get to Lukaku’s heights. Lukaku, known for his pace, power and goal scoring prowess has made him into a world class player that he is today.
The former Chelsea assistant coach, Zola believes that Osimhen and Lukaku possess the same style of play in terms of their exceptional hold-up plays and ability to take on defenders, and these are the things that defines a modern day striker.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview, Zola has this to say about the Super Eagles forward.
“I didn’t know Osimhen when he arrived last year, but I have studied him a little and I have seen a gifted player.
“His movements are so good and his athletic strength can be terrifying. He is Lukaku’s heir, he is still young and with a lot of room for improvement.”
Osimhen scored 10 goals in 30 appearances last season despite suffering a shoulder damage that kept him out of the game.
Despite his red card against Venezia in their opening game of the season, the former Nigerian U-23 forward continued from where he stopped last season, banging a brace on Thursday night against Sampdoria to take his goal tally to five this season and his team are back to the top of the Serie A table.