New Delhi: Victor Osimhen is set to join Galatasaray on loan after his move to Chelsea didn’t work out. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Nigerian striker is expected to fly to Istanbul tonight to finalize the deal. Galatasaray will cover his entire salary during the loan, which will last until the end of the season.
But Osimhen doesn’t plan to stay at Galatasaray for long. He’s asked Napoli to lower his release clause from €130 million to €75 million, making it easier for top clubs to sign him in the future. He also wants an option to leave Galatasaray in January if a big club comes calling. This shows that while he’s joining the Turkish side now, he’s already thinking about his next move.
Earlier this summer, both Chelsea and Saudi club Al-Ahli wanted to sign Osimhen, but neither deal happened. Napoli, unhappy with how things turned out, has left Osimhen out of their Serie A squad for the season. Over his four years at Napoli, Osimhen became a key player, scoring 76 goals in 133 matches. He was especially impressive in the 2022/23 season, where he scored 26 goals to help Napoli win the Serie A title.
Galatasaray, who will play in the UEFA Europa League after missing out on the Champions League, hopes Osimhen will bring some much-needed firepower to their attack. However, it’s clear that Osimhen sees this move as temporary, with his eyes already on the January transfer window.
🚨🟡🔴 Victor Osimhen has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
Understand Osimhen’s now asking for release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m…
…also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
Final points being discussed. ⏳✈️ pic.twitter.com/6IOymCKCGO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 2, 2024
Why the Chelsea deal fell apart?
Chelsea’s attempt to sign Victor Osimhen didn’t go as planned for a few reasons. The club, now more careful with how much they spend, wasn’t ready to meet Osimhen’s high salary demands. This cautious approach comes after some of their recent expensive signings didn’t turn out as expected.
Meanwhile, Saudi club Al-Ahli offered much more money than Chelsea, but Osimhen still wanted to join a top European club. Despite showing interest, Chelsea didn’t push hard enough to close the deal and instead focused on other players like Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix.
In the end, Chelsea’s hesitation and Osimhen’s desire to keep his options open led to the deal falling apart. Now, Osimhen is heading to Galatasaray, but with the January transfer window approaching, his future remains uncertain. He might be on the move again soon if the right opportunity comes along.
Victor Osimhen joins Galatasaray on loan after a failed Chelsea move, with plans to potentially leave in January for a bigger club. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
