Lille striker Victor Osimhen has hailed teammate Mike Maignan for his goalkeeping qualities and considers the former France U21 international one of the best goalkeepers in France at the moment, if not Europe.

Statistics back Osimhen's claims as Mike Maignan has registered the joint-most clean sheets in Europe's top five leagues this season, twelve in total, along with Alisson (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Predrag Rajkovic (Stade Reims) and David Soria (Getafe).

Premier League club Chelsea have identified Maignan as their top summer transfer target as a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga following his impressive performances this season.

In a question and answer session with his Instagram followers as published by Sport. fr, Osimhen said : "How easy is it to score a penalty against Mike Maignan? my answer is no! Almost all players lose to him.He is too strong !"

Since making his Ligue 1 debut as a replacement for the dismissed Vincent Enyema against Rennes in September 2015, the PSG Academy product has saved nine penalties, including from Memphis Depay, Max Gradel, Nabil Fekir and Falcao.

The 24-year-old has conceded 27 goals in 28 appearances in the Ligue I in the current season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel