Victor Osimhen could sign for Galatasaray as early as tonight, with Napoli and the player agreeing a dry loan move to Turkey. ‘We are close to an agreement,’ said Giovanni Manna.
The Corriere dello Sport was the first to break the story this afternoon and it has moved rapidly in just over an hour to becoming a done deal.
Sky Sport Italia and RMC Sport claim that Napoli have given the all-clear to a dry loan – without an option to buy – as long as Galatasaray cover his full salary of nearly €11m per season.
The alternative would’ve been for the Turkish club to pay a fee for the loan, but have the wages shared between them.
Representatives from the side are flying in to Naples for advanced negotiations and to finalise the paperwork this evening.
Napoli director of sport Manna also told Sports Digitale in Turkey: “It is correct to say we are in talks with Galatasaray and we are close to an agreement.”
Little Osimhen choice but for Galatasaray
Osimhen was also enthusiastic about the idea of joining Galatasaray, faced with the prospect of having to sit in the stands until the transfer window opens in January.
Napoli were adamant he would not be welcomed back into the squad, also because they insist it was the Nigeria international who declared months ago he no longer wanted to play for them.
He will be reunited with former Partenopei teammate Dries Mertens in Istanbul.
Although Osimhen had wanted a Champions League team, he will still be able to compete in the Europa League with Galatasaray, who are facing Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax in the tournament.