Chelsea’s perfect striker: The staggering cost of Victor Osimhen

Chelsea have been told what it would take to sign Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen this summer, and the numbers are staggering.

The Nigerian superstar was one of the protagonists of the past two summer transfer windows. In 2024, he held advanced talks with Al-Ahli, Chelsea and PSG, but no move materialised, forcing him to join Galatasaray on loan as a last resort.

His stint in Istanbul went surprisingly well. An instant fan favourite, Osimhen netted an absurd 37 goals in 41 appearances while also providing eight assists. As a result, Galatasaray were desperate to make his stint permanent.

After a lengthy saga, during which the 27-year-old was again linked with various clubs, Galatasaray obliterated their transfer record to sign him permanently from Napoli for a whopping €75 million.

They also splashed the cash on various other signings, raising questions over the sustainability of this approach. Galatasaray, who can rival Europe’s top clubs in terms of revenue, are confident that they are not spending above their means.

Osimhen’s eye-watering price tag

However, because Galatasaray’s finances are under scrutiny and because Osimhen has continued to impress, transfer links are once again swirling. Juventus, who were previously interested, are said to be yet again interested.

A move back to Italy is virtually impossible, though. Still scarred from losing Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus in 2015, Napoli inserted an “anti-Serie A” clause in Osimhen’s deal, effectively preventing him from returning until 2028.

It is thought that Galatasaray would have to pay Napoli an additional €70m if they were to sell him to an Italian club. Given the financial reality of Serie A, no club is capable of paying fair market value plus an additional €70m for Osimhen.

If Osimhen is to leave Galatasaray, his next destination will have to be elsewhere. Chelsea have been associated with him since at least 2023, and he was previously described as a perfect match for them. However, they would have to shatter their wage structure to sign him.

Indeed, that is not the only thing they would have to break, according to Foot Mercato. They would also have to set a new Premier League record because signing Osimhen would require a fee of €150m, the report claims.

As a result, a transfer away from Galatasaray looks highly unlikely. Osimhen has no interest in moving to Saudi Arabia, and European clubs have cooled their interest in him because of the pay package required to sign him. This includes long-standing admirers PSG.

The only side still keeping close tabs on Osimhen is said to be Bayern Munich, who view him as a potential long-term replacement for Harry Kane. However, with the England captain currently in negotiations over a contract extension, it seems doubtful that a move for the Nigerian is materialising anytime soon.

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