Victor Osimhen has enjoyed a stellar individual season with Galatasaray, a spell that has reportedly kept him firmly on Chelsea’s radar as the summer transfer window approaches.
After an anticipated loan move from Napoli to Stamford Bridge failed to materialise last summer, the 26-year-old Nigerian forward instead joined Galatasaray, where his position with the Italian club was deemed untenable.
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His decision proved fruitful, as Osimhen has been in sensational form, contributing significantly to Galatasaray’s recent Turkish Super Lig title and Turkish Cup double.
Osimhen has been a revelation for the Istanbul giants, netting 36 goals and providing eight assists in 40 appearances across all competitions. His prolific output has been a driving force behind Galatasaray’s success, with two league games still remaining in their championship campaign.
While Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen last summer didn’t culminate in a deal, sources close to football.london indicate that the West London club retains a keen interest in the striker for the upcoming transfer window. However, Chelsea are also understood to be monitoring a range of other attacking talents, with Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap among those recently scouted.
The early opening of the transfer window on June 1st, attributed to the revamped FIFA Club World Cup schedule, could see Chelsea push for a deal for a player like Osimhen as early as next month.
However, any potential move would likely need to wait until after Galatasaray’s final two Super Lig fixtures: an away trip to Goztepe on May 24th and a home clash against Istanbul Basaksehir on June 1st.
Furthermore, Osimhen is expected to be involved in Nigeria’s international friendlies against Ghana on May 28th and Russia on June 6th. This schedule suggests that any move to Stamford Bridge would realistically not occur before June 7th, and the significant financial figures involved are likely to make any transfer highly complex.
When questioned about his future after Galatasaray clinched the Turkish league title on Sunday, Osimhen remained focused on the present. “I feel very happy. It is incredible to take part in Galatasaray’s history and reach the fifth star,” he stated. “We have two matches left. We will look to have fun. I am enjoying the moment. I am not thinking about my future.”
