Victor Osimhen is one of the names being mentioned as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain after news emerged that Al-Hilal offered €300 million for his signature.
The transfer fee will be the highest in the world. Osimhen’s valuation by Napoli pales in comparison. All the parties involved are in talks over a deal that will see the 24-year-old move to Saudi Arabia for one season before he joins LaLiga side Real Madrid.
In this article, we will build, with the €300 million budget, the ultimate XI with the best African players including Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
🚨🌕 BREAKING: Kylian Mbappé's family is ready to ACCEPT Al-Hilal's offer. The player hasn't decided yet. @DiMarzio 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/y3k3MsVpOm
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) July 25, 2023
African XI with Osimhen, AFCON stars on €300 million budget
The €300 million that Al-Hilal intends to pay PSG for Mbappe can build many strong teams. Here is an XI of African players in Europe built around Napoli star man and Mbappe’s potential replacement at PSG, Osimhen.
CAF confirm 2023 #CAFAwards will hold on December 11.
Victor Osimhen has a really strong case for the top prize.
Will he be Nigeria's first APOTY in 23 years? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pNDPSb2lAn
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) July 25, 2023
Édouard Mendy
Position: Goalkeeper | Nationality: Senegal | Club: Al-Ahli | Price: €18 million
Édouard Mendy, the 2021 AFCON winner with Senegal, is one of the best goalkeepers from Africa. He did exploits with Chelsea in the last three years and was the winner of the FIFA The Best Goalkeeper award for 2021. The 31-year-old is currently with Al-Ahli, who signed him for 18 million. With Osimhen in attack and Mendy guarding the goal, this is a team that can challenge for glory.
Ramy Bensebaïni
Position: Fullback | Nationality: Algeria | Club: Borussia Dortmund | Price: €20 million
Ramy Bensebaïni is one of the shining stars in Africa, which has a dearth of exciting fullbacks who operate from the left. The Algerian was one of the best performers in the German Bundesliga last season for Borussia Mönchengladbach. He will play the 2023/24 season with Borussia Dortmund, who he joined for free at the end of the season. With a transfer value of €20 million, he is quite a steal.
Chancel Mbemba
Position: Centreback | Nationality: DR Congo | Club: Marseille | Price: €20 million
Chancel Mbemba beat Terem Moffi to win the award for the best African player in the French Ligue 1 last season, as Osimhen did in 2020. The Olympique de Marseille man also made it into the 2022/23 Ligue 1 team of the season. The 28-year-old from DR Congo is one of Africa’s most technical players and with a value of €20 million, he will be a steal for any club looking for a cheap but reliable centreback.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
🇫🇷 Mbappé
🇧🇪 Openda
🇦🇷 Messi
🇨🇮 Fofana
🇫🇷 Rongier
🇫🇷 Thuram
🇵🇹 Mendes
🇦🇹 Danso
🇨🇩 Mbemba
🇲🇦 Hakimi
🇫🇷 Samba pic.twitter.com/ZM06rhQnwS— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 28, 2023
Abdou Diallo
Position: Centreback | Nationality: Senegal | Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Price: €10 million
Abdou Diallo spent the 2022/23 season on loan at RB Leipzig from Mbappe’s PSG and alongside Josko Gvardiol, formed an impressive partnership. Together, they achieved DFB-Pokal glory in Germany. He could be moved on this season and at €10 million, he brings a world of experience to any team.
Clinton Mata
Position: Fullback | Nationality: Angola | Club: Lyon | Price: €5 million
Clinton Mata at 30 is making a big jump from the Belgian Jupiler Pro League to the French Ligue 1 to join Olympique Lyonnais ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Angolan right-sided fullback costs only €5 million and is as reliable as many of the world’s best. It was players like him that helped the Belgian league earn UEFA coefficient points to become one of the top five leagues at the end of last season, he is value for money in a team built around Osimhen with a €300 million budget.
Seko Fofana
Position: Midfielder | Nationality: Ivory Coast | Club: Al-Nassr | Price: €25 million
Seko Fofana was the previous winner of the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé for Ligue 1’s best African player before Mbemba won it in 2023. His efforts helped RC Lens finish second in the French league and they will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season. Next season, however, he will be facing off against €300 million man Mbappe while playing for Al-Nassr, the rivals of Al-Hilal.
If this is the last we’ve seen of Seko Fofana in Europe’s major leagues, what an absolute privilege it has been. pic.twitter.com/lnssqc9HeV
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) July 17, 2023
Azzedine Ounahi
Position: Midfielder | Nationality: Morocco | Club: Marseille | Price: €12 million
The 2022 FIFA World Cup had many stories and one of those featured Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. The 23-year-old dazzled in a group that had the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric and Matteo Kovacic. He went on to dominate the likes of Sergio Busquets, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva in the knockouts as Morocco finished in fourth place.
Iliman Ndiaye
Position: Midfielder | Nationality: Senegal | Club: Sheffield United | Price: €18 million
Iliman Ndiaye might have played in the EFL Championship last season but not many African midfielders were better than him. Alongside Mohammed Kudus of Ghana and AFC Ajax, he was one of the best-performing attacking midfielders in the 2022/23 season. Sheffield United are back in the Premier League thanks to his efforts and for €18 million, he can bring value to any team. His linkup with a striker of Osimhen’s quality will be special to witness.
Marseille are pushing massively to sign Iliman Ndiaye in the next 24 hours. Sheffield United may be reluctantly forced to sell after a breakdown in contracts talks due to disagreements over a release clause.
[@reluctantnicko]#twitterblades #sufc pic.twitter.com/TAyzFJ1tea
— The Bladesman (@The_Bladesman) July 25, 2023
Samuel Chukwueze
Position: Forward | Nationality: Nigeria | Club: AC Milan | Price: €20 million
Villarreal and AC Milan agreed terms for the transfer of the Nigeria national football team forward Samuel Chukwueze while the €300 million Al-Hilal and Mbappe saga brewed. Nigerians have wished for him and Osimhen to link up at club level like they did at the 2015 U-17 FIFA World Cup. The winger is one of the most talented wingers in Europe and at €20 million, he can offer a lot to any team.
Samuel Chukwueze to AC Milan, here we go! Documents are being exchanged and checked between AC Milan and Villarreal 🚨🔴⚫️ #ACMilan
Chukwueze will sign the contract this week — valid until June 2028.
Fee around €20m plus €8m add ons.
Medical booked later this week. pic.twitter.com/oyAouFpB95
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 24, 2023
Gift Orban
Position: Forward | Nationality: Nigeria | Club: KAA Gent | Price: €20 million
One of the hottest properties out of Nigeria is Gift Orban of KAA Gent, who is being courted by Europe’s biggest clubs in the ongoing summer transfer window. A versatile forward who can play all across the attack, his link-up with Samuel Chukwueze and Osimhen will be an attack to fear.
Victor Osimhen
Position: Striker | Nationality: Nigeria | Club: Napoli | Price: €120 million
There is not much to say about the phenomenon that is Victor Osimhen, the ace of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Napoli want nothing less than €200 million for him but the highest value placed on the AFCON 2023 qualifiers top scorer by transfer data collection platforms is €120 million, which will make him the most expensive player in this XI.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 months ago
