•Victor Osimhen
Italian giants Napoli have rejected a €65m bid from Galatasaray for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, the Turkish giants attempted to make Osimhen’s loan move permanent but fell short of the striker’s €75m release clause.
The 26-year-old joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season without an option to buy, but the Turkish club have a unique advantage in negotiations due to a compensation clause in the agreement.
Should Osimhen move to another club in January, Galatasaray would be entitled to €6m compensation, effectively raising his release clause to €81m for other clubs during the winter transfer window.
This special arrangement means only Galatasaray can acquire the striker for €75m this month, with other clubs able to trigger the same release clause from summer.
Osimhen’s release clause was initially set at €130m but was reduced last summer when he signed a new deal with Napoli before joining Galatasaray.
The Nigeria international has been in scintillating form for the Turkish leaders, netting 16 goals and providing five assists in 20 appearances since his loan move.
In December, Osimhen publicly committed to seeing out his loan spell at Galatasaray, telling reporters, “I will not leave in January, I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season.
“I do not know what Galatasaray and Napoli are talking about afterwards, but if they come to me, we will talk.”
The striker’s stock has risen considerably following a stellar 2022/23 season with Napoli, where he scored 26 goals to win the Serie A Golden Boot and help the Partenopei claim their first league title in over three decades.
