Lille tell all English Premier League clubs that Osimhen will not be sold this January

FRENCH Ligue One side Lille has declared that it will reject all offers from English Premier League sides for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen during the forthcoming January transfer window as they need him for their pursuit of a Champions League spot.

Osimhen, who is to become 21 on December 29, is one of the hottest strikers in Europe at the moment, scoring 13 goals since joining Lille from Belgian side Sporting Charlero in August. Due to his hot form, Osimhen has been on the radar of many English Premier League clubs including the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs.

Several of these clubs have been looking to sign Osimhen during this January window but Lille have made it clear that the striker will remain with them until June at the very earliest. Osimhen, who is the second-highest performing striker in the French top-flight league behind Wissam Ben Yedder, still has four-and-a-half years left on a five-year deal he signed with Lille in 2019.

French football magazine L’Équipe, said: “Lille have stated their intention to refuse all offers made for next month for their key players, Victor Osimhen and central defender Gabriel. They are also unlikely to be any arrivals also in January but that depends on the fitness of Timothy Weah, which could see Lille tempted to land a backup to support Osimhen and Loic Remy.”

At the moment, Lille are currently fourth in Ligue One, some 14 points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Lille are hoping to clinch a Uefa Champions League place this season and will need Osimhen's goals to help achieve that.