Respected Turkish football journalist Kaan Bayazit has warned Galatasaray against the permanent signing of Victor Osimhen when his loan deal from Napoli expires in the summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Osimhen has taken to life at Galatasaray with ease and scored a brace yesterday in the Europa League 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur to take his goal count to six goals in eight games across all competitions this season.
His loan deal carries a break clause in the January transfer window, but the 25 year old has ruled out any potential exit for now and will rather weigh his options in the summer, with Napoli not open to allowing him a way back into their squad.
Galatasaray are thought to be considering a permanent deal but according to Bayazit in an interview with the BBC, it is also a question of finances and squad balance for Galatasaray.
“If I was an accountant I would say, ‘don’t do it’,” he says when asked if Galatasaray will aim to keep the striker beyond his loan.
He suggests Napoli “will want 50m euros bare minimum” as a transfer fee. Galatasaray’s record signing is midfielder Gabriel Sara from Norwich last summer for 18m euros.
“Galatasaray have Mauro Icardi, so they should spend that money on a different position to centre forward,” adds Bayazit. “One reason it was a really surprising move was that they have great strikers but no star wingers.
“Fans were very critical before Osimhen happened as there was no star winger. They are now happy, but as a puzzle piece fitting in, it doesn’t make sense.”
