Victor Osimhen is determined to see the season through with Galatasaray – but hopes to put himself in the shop window for Premier League clubs with his performances across the campaign.
The 25-year-old Nigeria striker joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli in September and has hit the ground running in Turkey, scoring nine goals in his first 11 games in all competitions.
There had been intense speculation surrounding Osimhen’s future throughout much of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all credited with an interest in the forward.
Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli were also heavily linked but would go on to sign Ivan Toney instead after Napoli increased their asking price to strike an agreement for Osimhen.
Just a month on from Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul, Napoli confirmed that the attacker could leave the Serie A club on a permanent basis in January due to a break clause in his Galatasaray loan deal.
But transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio claims Osimhen has no interest in departing Galatasaray midway through the season and does not even want to speak with other teams at this stage.
‘First of all, Osimhen wants to finish the season at Galatasaray. He is very happy to be there and doesn’t want to talk about other clubs,’ Di Marzio told bettingexpert.com.
‘He wants to play and win there.
‘I will leave a small percentage for Galatasaray to try to buy him and I will discuss with Napoli to find an agreement.”
‘It would probably be less than the release clause, but Galatasaray are so happy with him that they plan to find a solution with Napoli.’
But while he remains focused on Galatasaray, it appears Osimhen wants to use the coming months to attract potential interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.
‘I know that a club in Saudi Arabia wants him. I don’t know the name of the club, but they are prepared to buy him for Napoli and get him back at the end of the season,’ Di Marzio added.
‘The problem is that they want to sign him now and Osimhen doesn’t want to sign now, he wants to wait.
‘He wants to use this season as an opportunity to let the Premier League clubs decide whether to make an offer to Napoli.’
According to Di Marzio, PSG are still in the running for Osimhen’s signature after failing with a bid for the Nigerian in the summer.
‘PSG are always an opportunity, and they’re the only club who have made an offer for him this summer,’ he continued.
‘They offered €220m for Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, so maybe they’ll try to get both again.
‘But he wants to finish the season at Galatasaray, even if the Saudi Arabian club want to sign him now.’
Osimhen, who has quickly won over Galatasaray fans with his barnstorming start in Turkish football, appeared to rule out a January exit following the side’s Europa League win over Tottenham.
‘I’m here as a Galatasaray player, I’m happy here,’ Osimhen told reporters after netting twice in a 3-2 victory last month.
‘Since I came the Galatasaray fans, the club, I saw how big a family this club is. The way they have treated me and my family in a wonderful manner. It’s important to be able to give them my all on the pitch.
‘I’ve seen a lot of the speculation linking me out of the club in January, I can state through me now I’m going to be here until the end of the season.
‘And then I don’t know what Galatasaray and Napoli are negotiating but of course, if they come to me to speak about one or two things regarding this club I would consider it, of course.
‘But now I’m here, I’m focused on this team, I’m focused on the objective the club has set and I want to give my all and make sure that we win the league and if we can go further in the Europa League we can win it also because we have a good squad.
‘So far I’m enjoying my stay in Istanbul, it’s an amazing club I’m in. I’ll be there, for me it’s important I’m enjoying my football right now, I’m doing a lot for myself and my family and, of course, for this club. I’m happy to be here.’
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