Victor Osimhen Transfer Unlikely This Summer as Turkish Analyst Warns €150m Price Tag Will Drive Away Arsenal and Real Madrid

Victor Osimhen’s prospects of securing a high-profile move to one of Europe’s elite clubs this summer have been called into question by Turkish sports commentator Serdar Ali Çelikler, who contends that the financial package required to sign the Nigerian striker is beyond what any club on the continent would realistically sanction.

Speaking on the Neo Spor YouTube channel, as reported by Pulse Sports, Çelikler was unequivocal in his assessment. “No one in Europe would pay 150 million Euros in transfer fees and 21 million Euros in net salary for Osimhen,” the analyst stated, as reported by Habersarikirmizi. He suggested the only scenario in which a transfer becomes workable is if both Galatasaray and the player substantially revise their positions. “If they offer between 75-100 million Euros in transfer fees, and Osimhen agrees to reduce his salary to 10 million Euros, then they could acquire him,” Çelikler explained.

The comments arrive amid considerable speculation linking the Super Eagles forward with a return to one of Europe’s major leagues. Premier League side Arsenal and La Liga giants Real Madrid have reportedly been among the clubs monitoring his situation, though no formal bids have been confirmed.

Osimhen’s form at Galatasaray has done nothing to diminish his reputation as one of the continent’s most prolific strikers. Since joining the Istanbul club, he has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances across all competitions — a return that helped Galatasaray secure their fourth consecutive Turkish Süper Lig title, also representing his second league title with the club.

Despite the transfer speculation, Osimhen remains under contract with Galatasaray until the summer of 2029, a timeline that affords the Turkish club considerable leverage in any potential sale. Should no suitor meet the asking price this summer, Çelikler believes Osimhen will simply remain in Istanbul. “Osimhen would stay until his contract expires,” he concluded.

The 26-year-old forward, who previously played for Napoli and Lille before moving to Turkey, has been a consistent subject of transfer rumour since establishing himself among Europe’s most feared centre-forwards. At Napoli, Osimhen scored 76 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions and was central to the club’s 2022-23 Serie A title triumph — their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Separate reports published on the same date suggest Osimhen’s name has also been linked with Barcelona, following indications that Robert Lewandowski could be set to announce his departure from the Catalan club. Whether any of these reported interests translates into a concrete offer that meets Galatasaray’s valuation remains to be seen, with the Turkish club’s strong contractual position making a discount sale unlikely without significant pressure from the player himself.