Galatasaray improve bid for Man United target Victor Osimhen, propose to pay €75m release clause in instalments | OneFootball

Galatasaray have upped their offer for Napoli striker and reported Manchester United target Victor Osimhen, but there are still some details to work out before a deal gets over the line.

Osimhen on United’s list of striker targets

Heading into the current transfer window, adding goals to the team was United and Ruben Amorim’s top transfer target after a disastrous 2024/25 campaign in which consistently finding the back of the net was a huge problem.

United quickly wrapped up a deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and for weeks now, the club has been in talks with Brentford to try and conclude a transfer for Bryan Mbeumo.

But the Red Devils’ ambitions don’t end there, with a striker also on the agenda. After missing out on first-choice target Liam Delap, United were forced to cast a wider net and explore alternative targets.

Some of the talismans United continue to be linked with include Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (free agent), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and of course, Osimhen.

Osimhen has been mentioned to be on United’s radar for a number of years but a move has never materialised. However, this summer was always expected to be when he departed the Partenopei. He was banished from the Napoli team by Antonio Conte last year after his failed attempt to engineer a switch to Chelsea. He came close to joining Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli on the deadline day but this also collapsed.

Napoli sanctioned a loan exit to Galatasaray, which was a remarkable success, as he struck 37 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.

Reports have suggested that Osimhen is keen on a move to the Premier League. There were even claims that he was waiting for United to swoop in for him.

However, more recently, it emerged that Galatasaray have made significant progress in the race to sign the Nigerian superstar.

Galatasaray closing in on Osimhen

A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Galatasaray were nearing an agreement with Napoli, which would see Osimhen complete a permanent move to the Turkish giants.

It was stated that Osimhen already has an agreement in place with Galatasaray over personal terms.

If all goes according to plan, he will put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the option to extend his stay by an additional 12 months.

Now, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided a major update on the situation, and it appears that Osimhen is now slipping firmly out of United’s reach.

According to Romano, Galatasaray have expressed a willingness to pay the value of Osimhen’s €75m release clause, although they want to pay it in instalments.

Romano wrote on X, “Galatasaray have improved their official bid for Victor Osimhen.”

“€75m reached as value of the release clause but not triggering it… as the offer is with payment terms in five years as instalments.”

“Decision up to Napoli.”

This has been corroborated by Alfredo Pedulla, who notes that Napoli want guarantees before they sign off on a sale to Galatasaray.

The Serie A side don’t want spread-out payments and have asked for Galatasaray to present surety bonds to guarantee full payment. There is therefore work to be done before everything is done.

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