Scoring twice in eight minutes against Tottenham Hotspur this week reminded anyone who had forgotten that Victor Osimhen was Europe's hottest striker last year, reigniting transfer interest in the Nigeria international.
Osimhen's brace helped Galatasaray slay Spurs in the Europa League, placing himself back in the shop window before major clubs ponder boosting their squads in January.
Sent to Turkey after potential transfers to Chelsea and Al Ahli fell through, the 25-year-old first burst onto the global stage when setting Serie A alight as Napoli claimed a long-awaited Scudetto in 2023.
However, when things turned sour in Naples, it was assumed that Premier League sides such as Arsenal or Chelsea would come calling, in addition to Saudi Arabian clubs and perhaps Paris Saint-Germain.
The Blues were in talks during August but no deal was done, and Osimhen eventually switched to Istanbul - where his hero Didier Drogba once played - on a loan until the end of the season.
But, after a season-ending injury to his Gala strike partner, Sports Mole now considers whether he could still end up in England before the winter transfer window slides shut.
Does Mauro Icardi injury change Osimhen's January plans?
What a cross, what a finish 💫
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen combine once again to increase Galatasaray's lead to 3-1 over Tottenham 🤝
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jfWCs9Krpf
Having been shoehorned into Galatasaray's starting lineup since arriving at short notice, in a move that effectively forced coach Okan Buruk to select a two-man frontline, Osimhen managed to dovetail effectively with established star Mauro Icardi.
The pair again joined forces with Osimhen's former Napoli colleague Dries Mertens against Tottenham on Thursday evening, when a 3-2 victory for the Turkish Super Lig champions was only marred by Icardi's late injury.
The Argentinian tore his ACL at the very end of the Europa League contest and will now miss the rest of the season - and that could have consequences for his new strike partner.
Many Gala fans were critical when Osimhen arrived, believing that reinforcements were needed in other areas of the squad; however, a combination of his swift integration and Icardi's misfortune surely makes the Nigerian indispensable.
With six goals and four assists in eight competitive games, and having linked up so well with Mertens, can Galatasaray afford to let him go?
Will Galatasaray sign Osimhen in January?
© Imago
Galatasaray's finances will not stretch to meeting Osimhen's £62m (€75m) release clause, and his loan from Napoli does not include an option to become permanent.
Though Gala had hoped that Napoli's notorious club president Aurelio De Laurentiis would accept £41m (€50m) in January due to a dearth of other options, several suitors - such as Arsenal and Chelsea - may have had their interest piqued by the striker's form in Turkey.
The Istanbul giants are three points clear at the top of the Super Lig standings and sit third in the Europa League table after beating Spurs, and Osimhen's input has played a large part - he also scored the winning goal against city rivals Besiktas last month.
When pressed by local reporters, the ex-Lille attacker recently suggested he would not leave before the end of the season, and Gala's hopes of retaining him might be aided by a reported clause in his contract.
Sezonun ikinci yarısı burada mısın?
— Peşindeyiz Galatasaray! (@PesindeyizApp) October 28, 2024
- Victor Osimhen: "Evet buradayım." (@tvfutbolplus)
pic.twitter.com/AEeLgSx8YN
While his release fee was lowered to £62m from £108m (€130m) in the summer, RAI Sport journalist Ciro Venerato claims that price only applies to Galatasaray during January.
Other clubs would have to pay £75m (€90m) before the end of this season, and the clause is apparently not valid for any Serie A sides.
Will outlay deter Osimhen's Premier League suitors?
© Imago
It is not long before the next transfer window opens, with speculation about possible deals already circulating, and top clubs in the Premier League will surely be at the forefront of any major spending.
With Rodri-less champions Manchester City faltering, the title race could be more open this term, so Arsenal may finally find the missing piece in their jigsaw and sign a reliable high-profile striker.
Even though Chelsea have already invested more than £1billion under Todd Boehly and co, their talents for creative accounting should allow more to be splashed out if Enzo Maresca's squad requires reinforcement.
Less likely, but not impossible, is a move from Liverpool, who are still waiting for Darwin Nunez to fulfil his promise and could benefit from a lethal finisher - they tend to spend more cautiously, though.
After a sub-par 2023-24 season dampened the clamour for his signature, those previously hesitant clubs may now be convinced that Osimhen is worth the hefty fee written in his release clause.
Alternatively, they could wait and risk losing him to a direct rival - or the Saudi Pro League - in order to pay the reduced amount of £62m in June.
While Osimhen has claimed to be content, an agreed condition in his loan deal supposedly allows him to join one of Europe's top teams in January - but will any of them twitch first and trigger the clause?
Jonathan O'Shea
