After the end of a year’s loan spell with Galatasaray, Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has left more than a footprint at the RAMS Park. The U17 World Cup winner led Gala to win the domestic double last season – Turkish Süper Lig and Turkish Cup. He also won the Super Lig Golden Boot and Lig Player of the Season, scoring 37 goals in 41 matches the process. The Lions are now set to make the deal permanent as the eggheads  of the club  are ready to meet Napoli’s €75 million release clause on the Nigerian  

According to reports emanating from Naples, Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, is now close to realising his dream of a permanent move to Galatasaray, as the Super Lig reigning champions have agreed to pay the €75 million release clause on the Nigerian’s contract at Napoli.

Tutto Napoli reports that Galatasaray officials are in the final stages of negotiations with Napoli over a permanent transfer of Osimhen to the RAMS Park in Istanbul.

Galatasaray Vice President, Abdullah Kavukcu, was in Italy on Tuesday to lead face-to-face discussions with Napoli officials.

The top transfer source hinted that Galatasaray are now ready to pay the full €75 million release clause on Osimhen contract with Napoli, although to be spread over three years at €25 million annually.

Crucially, Osimhen now appears to have resolved any doubts about his future. The 26-year-old forward has reportedly informed Galatasaray of his desire to stay, turning down a record-breaking offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, who had tabled a jaw-dropping €40 million per year for four seasons—€160 million in total for the Nigerian.

Despite the financial lure, Osimhen is said to prioritise competing in the UEFA Champions League, and per their recent success by winning the Turkish league title, this is something Galatasaray can offer.

Earlier this week, Galatasaray submitted an initial bid of €50 million plus €5 million in add-ons, but Napoli rejected the offer, holding firm to the terms of the release clause.

However, the Turkish club returned with renewed urgency, buoyed by Osimhen’s commitment and the backing of local sponsors ready to support the financial package. Napoli also rejected the improved €60million offer.

It is the insistence of Napoli on the payment of the full €75 million release clause that made the Turkish Lig team to do this latest offer of ready to pay the entire release clause but spread over three years.

The Turkish champions have also agreed to pay the striker an annual salary of €15 million with a signing-on bonus of €10 million. Osimhen had long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Liverpool among his top suitors.

But neither club has made a formal offer this summer, which has allowed Galatasaray to move ahead in the race.

The player’s reported acceptance of a €16 million annual salary also shows his willingness to continue with the Turkish champions, who are planning to build their Champions League campaign around him.

Should the two clubs reach an agreement in the coming days, Osimhen’s transfer move is set to become one of the biggest in Turkish football history.

The Napoli pre-season training camp opens next week Tuesday, and Osimhen’s future will have to be resolved before then.

The release clause of the player will also expire same day and thereafter, it will be left for Napoli to decide on the transfer fee they will receive, that is if they are unable to arrive at an agreeable term before then.

Meanwhile, Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has demanded INEOS stage a transfer intervention to bring Osimhen to Old Trafford after the Nigerian striker finally agreed to a move elsewhere and with a big update from Italy on the striker’s proposed next club.

Despite Osimhen’s brilliant form in front of goal over several seasons, there appears a surprise shortage of genuine interest in bringing the player to the Premier League, even though Napoli have made it clear they will not stand in his way of a sale this summer. And having set a €75m price on the striker, suitors know exactly what it would take to sign the striker who boasts 151 career goals.

Manchester United’s need to strengthen up front is obvious after Ruben Amorim’s side managed a paltry 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, a figure better than only four other sides in the top flight and a colossal 42 shy of the league’s best, Liverpool.

Ferdinand has begged his former club to intervene and hijack Galatasaray’s plans to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent basis.

“I’m like a broken record. If anyone listens to my podcast, I’ve said Osimhen for a while now,” Ferdinand said.

“He’s a centre-forward, he’s experienced, he knows how to score goals at the top level. I’ve seen today that Galatasaray have put a £50m bid in.

“I mean, £50m to get a top-class striker, one of the top strikers in the world, is absolute peanuts in today’s market. I’ll be disappointed if he goes to Galatasaray for that type of money when Man United are crying out for a No. 9.”

“I’ll be disappointed to miss out on Gyokeres if we don’t get a No.9 in. But if we got Osimhen, then I wouldn’t be too concerned,” he concluded.

However, Ferdinand’s pleas may come too late, with an update from Italy suggesting a permanent move to Galatasaray was closer than ever after his exit clause was met. According to Italian transfer reporter, Gianluca Di Marzio, the Turkish side have now confirmed they are willing to meet Napoli’s €75m valuation for Osimhen.

And in a post on his X account, he has revealed they have offered him a contract worth €16m net over four years – worth around £66,000 a week after tax.

Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, though, states there still remains plenty of talking to do before a deal can be reached, with Napoli demanding one immediate payment to secure the deal; though Gala’s proposal is over what he describes as ‘multiple term payments’.

Aouna also claims Al-Hilal are standing by to hijack the deal, having made it clear to Napoli they are willing to pay what it takes to prise the Nigerian star to the Saudi Pro-League.

Wherever he ends up, and it does seem Galatasaray are now strong favourites amid claims Osimhen has chosen to go there after enjoying his season on loan in Istanbul, Fabrizio Romano has opened up to explain why a move to Old Trafford was never a realistic option.

Taking to YouTube to detail the situation, Romano explained:

“Osimhen has always been very happy at Galatasaray and the club have an agreement on the contract with Osimhen until 2028 with an option for 2029.”

Interestingly, former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has urged Osimhen to consider staying at Galatasaray if Juventus are unable to meet Napoli’s transfer demands for the Nigerian.

The Serie A rivals are among the suitors vying for the signature of the Super Eagles attacker. But, just like the English Premier League clubs, Juventus are reportedly unwilling to meet his wage demand and transfer fee.

Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, Adepoju, who was part of Nigeria’s 1994 squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup, acknowledged his preference for a move to Italy but admitted the Turkish option is more realistic at this stage.

“In my own opinion, I would have loved him to move to Juventus, but if they cannot match his salary and the transfer fee that Napoli is asking for, then I think he should stay back at Galatasaray,” Adepoju said.

Adepoju also reveals the striker’s popularity in Turkey as another reason to remain with the Super Lig champions.

“The fans there love him, and he has spent a year there with a lot of success. I think he should continue there and have more success,” Adepoju said. “He is a good player and with Galatasaray, I believe they will also love to have him back. Once they can reach an agreement, he should join them, in my opinion.”

Osimhen’s decision is expected in the coming days as negotiations between Napoli and Galatasaray enter their final stage.