Blow for Manchester United in Victor Osimhen pursuit as Galatasaray stance revealed
Yesterday at 02:57 AM
Manchester United are interested in signing Victor Osimhen this month but Galatasaray are reportedly ‘100 per cent convinced’ he will not leave in January.
The 26-year-old made the surprise move to Istanbul on loan from Napoli in the summer after pushing for a move away from the Italian side and no switch to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea materialising.
The Nigerian has been a big hit at Galatasaray since arriving, scoring 10 goals in 12 league games and three in four Europa League appearances, with Gala sitting pretty eight points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table.
Osimhen has joined the Turkish side on a season-long loan but there is reportedly a break clause in the contract with Napoli which allows the Italian team to sell him in January if an appropriate offer comes in.
The figure of £62m would reportedly allow a club to purchase the prolific striker before the winter transfer deadline.
While that would put the situation out of Galatasaray’s hands, reports suggest that they are relaxed about Osimhen’s immediate future.
Sky Sports Germany report that Galatasaray are ‘100 per cent convinced’ Osimhen will remain with the club beyond the current transfer window and that no negotiations over a move have taken place.
Manchester United are keen to bring in a striker in January, with Osimhen the ideal option, but they would need to get rid of players in order to finance a deal.
A £62m purchase is not an option for the club after spending over £180m in the summer and bringing in just short of £90m through sales.
The Red Devils are looking to offload some of the bigger earners in the squad which could facilitate a big-money arrival, namely Marcus Rashford and Casemiro.
Rashford has been touted as being involved in a swap deal for Osimhen, sending the England international to Napoli, which would bring down the cost of the Nigerian.
The 27-year-old has not played for the Red Devils since a Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen on 12 December, only making the substitutes’ bench once since then but remaining unused in the defeat to Newcastle United.
His prospects of playing under Ruben Amorim look very poor, although the Red Devils boss said he was ill on Sunday and that was why he was not involved in the squad for the 2-2 draw at Liverpool.
‘Marcus Rashford is still ill, so he’s not available for the game today,’ said the United manager.
AC Milan have been linked with a loan move for Rashford but a deal for any interested party is difficult as Manchester United want at least £40m and his enormous wages of around £325,000-a-week are a major stumbling block.
There is interest from the Saudi Pro League but the forward would prefer to remain in Europe and keep his hopes of returning to the England squad alive.
