October 11, (THEWILL) – Napoli director, Mauro Meluso, has indicated the club’s willingness to sell Victor Osimhen permanently in the upcoming January transfer window. The Nigerian striker, who was previously linked with a move to Chelsea during the summer, is currently on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey.
Despite intense speculation surrounding a potential English Premier League move, negotiations with Chelsea fell through due to disagreements over personal terms. Multiple contract offers from the London club failed to elicit a formal response from Osimhen’s representatives, leading to the collapse of the deal.
In an unexpected turn of events, Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan, with the Turkish club agreeing to cover his €10 million salary. The loan agreement includes a break clause allowing Napoli to recall Osimhen for a permanent transfer elsewhere if a suitable offer emerges.
Speaking at the Palermo Football Conference, Meluso addressed the situation: “It was a last-minute solution so he would not lose the first three months of the season. We will see in January.” Reports from Italy suggest Osimhen could be available for approximately £68 million in January, following the expiration of his £109 million release clause at the end of the summer window.
Meluso also shed light on the reasons behind Osimhen’s loan move, revealing that the player no longer desired to remain with the first team. The director acknowledged that while club president Aurelio De Laurentiis may have made contentious decisions, they were aimed at maintaining Napoli’s competitiveness. Since joining Galatasaray, Osimhen has continued his impressive form, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his first three Super Lig appearances.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
