New priority? Barcelona keep close tabs on Osimhen as striker stalls on Galatasaray exit
Barcelona's search for the heir to Robert Lewandowski is back in the headlines. According to fresh reports, the Catalan club's interest in Victor Osimhen has not faded, and sporting director Deco continues to closely monitor the Nigerian striker's situation at Galatasaray.
Details: According to Sport and transfer reporter Ekrem Konur, Barcelona's interest in Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has not faded. Deco previously considered the Nigerian among the options to strengthen the attack, and the club continues to monitor his situation. However, Osimhen has not yet made a clear decision about leaving Galatasaray, and the Turkish club have made it known they will not sell their star during the winter window, making a January move unlikely at this stage.
Osimhen's stance adds another layer to the story. The 27-year-old has yet to decide whether he wants to leave Turkey at all, and his agent, George Gardi, recently made it clear that the striker does not intend to depart for now. Barcelona, for their part, are understood to be planning for a summer move rather than the January window.
The finances explain the patience. Galatasaray paid a Turkish league record of €75 million to sign Osimhen permanently from Napoli and tied him to a contract until 2029, and Turkish reports have placed their current valuation well above €140 million. Barcelona's well-known economic constraints make any January assault close to impossible, so Deco is playing the long game.
On the pitch, Osimhen remains worth the wait. The Nigerian produced 22 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for the Istanbul giants last season and added seven goals in the Champions League, numbers that fit Hansi Flick's demand for a mobile, physical centre-forward once Lewandowski's era draws to a close.
It is worth noting that Galatasaray have no intention of losing their captain during the winter window, so even if Osimhen changes his mind, January appears unrealistic. The summer of 2027 is shaping up as the real battleground for one of Europe's most coveted number nines.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
