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Victor Osimhen has reportedly agreed terms with Galatasaray to join them on loan from Napoli.
Super Eagles ace Victor Osimhen is reportedly close to a sensational move to Galatasaray after accepting the terms proposed by the Turkish Super Lig club.
The 25-year-old's future has been a hot topic all summer, as he desired an exit from Napoli. Financial demands from both the player and Napoli prevented a move from materialising before the transfer window closed, and with relationships having broken down between both parties, the Nigerian striker is set to join the Turkish league, whose market is still open.
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Osimhen set for Galatasaray move
The Turkish Super Lig has always served as a way out for wantaway players in the bigger European leagues who have failed to get their future resolved within the transfer window.
The transfer market in Turkey remains open for weeks after the general European window has closed, and given the quality and financial capability of teams in the Super Lig, it is a convenient option for players.
Transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported this afternoon that Osimhen is set to become one such player after agreeing to terms from Turkish champions Galatasaray.
The Cim-Bom have also reached an agreement with Napoli, with the Partenopei’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, said to have given his consent to the deal.
According to the report, the move will be a dry season-long loan, and Galatasaray have agreed to cover Osimhen's wages in full. All parties are said to have reached an agreement on the terms of the deal and are minute details, plus a medical away from formalisation.
Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk, is reportedly prepared for Osimhen's inclusion into his team and will shift to a 3-5-2 formation to accommodate the Nigerian and current striker, Mauro Icardi.
Osimhen transfer saga: The summary
The seeds of this summer’s happenings were planted over a year ago when the Lagos-born striker publicly expressed his desire to play in the Premier League.
He was also coming off a season in which he led the Partenopei to a Scudetto title; hence, he was offered a new contract offer with a significant pay bump and a released clause. This ensured three things: he got paid his worth, and the club could not block a future move; for Napoli, given that he signed a one-year extension, his value was protected ahead of a proposed sale.
The reported €130 million release clause seemed reasonable at the time, as the Nigerian came 8th in the Ballon d'Or rankings and was named the CAF Men's Player of the Year. A season later, however, Napoli's fall off, an injury-blighted campaign for Osimhen, and PSR’’s stranglehold on the Premier League mean suitors were not as willing to match the stated fee.
Napoli insisted on the fee until deep in the transfer window, when it became evident that teams would not match the fee. They eventually slashed it. Late in the window, Chelsea and Al Ahli were the only suitors left. The English club were seeking a loan deal and were unwilling to match Osimhen's wage demands.
Al Ahli on the other hand, more than tripled his current wages, but the player was not keen on the move. Hence he stayed a Napoli player until past the deadline.
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