Report: Galatasaray close on shock Victor Osimhen loan deal

Galatasaray have reached an agreement in principle with Napoli over a one-year loan deal for exiled striker Victor Osimhen, according to reports.

The prolific 25-year-old was made available for transfer during the summer and was a main target for Chelsea right up until the final hours of the transfer window.

But despite moving on Romelu Lukaku, in addition to other player exits, the Blues were unable to persuade Osimhen to buy into their new incentivised wage structure, seeing a proposed move to west London collapse.

When the transfer window closed, Osimhen was stripped of his number 9 shirt and formally left out of their Serie A squad, with sporting director Giovanni Manna confirming the striker would not be integrated back into Antonio Conte's squad.

Now facing the prospect of sitting on the sidelines until January, Napoli have entered into talks with Galatasaray over what would be a one-year loan.

Manna told Sports Digitale: "Our talks with Galatasaray for Osimhen are correct and we are close to an agreement," and Fabrizio Romano reports that a deal has now broadly been agreed.

Italian media report that Osimhen has already given his approval to a straight loan deal ,which would see Galatasaray pay the entirety of the striker's wages for the 2024/25 campaign, but there are still details to be worked out before pen is put to paper.

Osimhen would then need to undergo a medical with Galatasaray, who already have the likes of Mauro Icardi, Dries Mertens, Michy Batshuayi and Hakim Ziyech on their books, with the deal one of the more sensational moves of the summer if it is signed off.

Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli had hoped to lure Osimhen over to the Middle East, but instead completed a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney – the Englishman taking up the final available spot to players from abroad.

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