- Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly happy at Galatasaray and committed to the team
- Italian side Juventus sees Osimhen as a potential replacement for Dusan Vlahovic
- Osimhen’s parent club Napoli included a clause allowing a January transfer if conditions are met
Super Eagles and on-loan Napoli forward Victor Osimhen's future remains a hot topic in football circles, with Galatasaray now keen to make his current loan move a long-term arrangement. After missing out on a transfer to a top European club during the last window, the Nigerian striker found himself at Galatasaray, where he has since flourished. With Napoli excluding Osimhen from their season squad list at the beginning of the month, a loan agreement was structured to grant the striker regular playing time, with an option to transfer in January if certain conditions are met.
However, Galatasaray's deputy chairman, İbrahim Hatipoğlu, has clarified that the club intends to keep Osimhen beyond the initial loan period.
“Osimhen’s leaving in January is out of the question, in fact, we are making plans to have Osimhen play next season as well. Osimhen is a Galatasaray player until June. Discussing this is aimed at changing the agenda, at spoiling the pleasure of watching Osimhen,” Hatipoğlu said to NTV Spor
Osimhen's early season performances have handed him a guaranteed place in the Galatasaray starting line-up, and Hatipoğlu hinted that the player’s happiness at the club could play a vital role in securing his future,
“The player shows how devoted he is to Galatasaray in every match. A person plays where he is happy. He has a contract with us until the end of the season.” he said.
Despite Hatipoğlu's confidence, Osimhen’s €75 million release clause, signed under his Napoli contract, is certainly a hurdle for Galatasaray. To date, the Turkish club's highest transfer was the €18 million spent on Gabriel Sara, a Brazilian midfielder from Norwich City.
Moreover, Juventus has been reportedly eyeing Osimhen, especially following Dusan Vlahovic's lacklustre performances.
According to Paolo Paganini, Rai Sports’ football chief, "Osimhen is one of the names on the club's list and the relationship between his agent and Juventus chief Giuntoli is very strong."
As Osimhen continues to prove himself at Galatasaray, the looming question remains whether the Turkish club can keep him despite interest from Europe’s elite.
Lukaku-Osimhen swap deal still in the works as Crystal Palace eyes Chelsea star
Previously, TheRadar reported that Premier League’s big-money spenders Chelsea and Italian side Napoli are edging closer to finalizing a verbal agreement regarding the transfer of Romelu Lukaku, potentially paving the way for the Premier League club to make a move for Victor Osimhen.
The swap deal has been in the works for some time, with Osimhen being a long-term target for Chelsea. Lukaku's expected departure, valued at an initial £25 million, would allow the Blues to push forward with their plans to strengthen their squad with a new centre-forward.
