Galatasaray told permanent Osimhen transfer is bad business, with Chelsea still in control

Chelsea seem to be in control of the transfer race for Victor Osimhen, as Galatasaray have been told not to sign the striker on a permanent basis due to the finances of the deal.

Galatasaray brought Osimhen through the door on loan in the summer. Napoli let him go after he failed to find his way out the door amid interest from Chelsea.

That interest remains, but Gala have also been linked with his permanent snare given Osimhen has been in good form for them.

But Turkish journalist Kaan Bayazit has told the club that financially, the deal is one they should not do.

“If I was an accountant I would say, ‘don’t do it,'” he told BBC Sport.

He believes Napoli will want €50million (£41.5m/$53.5m) “bare minimum” – and likely much more given his January break clause is set at €75m (£62.8m / $82.1m).

With the €18million move for Gabriel Sara Galatasaray’s most expensive outlay, Bayazit feels Osimhen would be too much, and the deal would make no sense with Mauro Icardi at the club.

“Galatasaray have Mauro Icardi, so they should spend that money on a different position to centre forward. One reason it was a really surprising move was that they have great strikers but no star wingers,” Bayazit said.

“Fans were very critical before Osimhen happened as there was no star winger. They are now happy, but as a puzzle piece fitting in, it doesn’t make sense.”

DON’T MISS: The most expensive Chelsea signings of all time, featuring five Todd Boehly deals

Osimhen on Chelsea radar

But Icardi has done his ACL, and there’s no telling how he will return next season.

Galatasaray could struggle to land Osimhen anyway, with Chelsea likely able to pay a lot more money for him.

TEAMtalk understands that the Blues have the Nigerian top of their shortlist, and recently made contact with his agents.

They seem to be well placed, though Osimhen has revealed that it won’t be in January when he moves, stating: “I’ve seen a lot of the speculation linking me out of the club in January, I can state through me now I’m going to be here until the end of the season.”

Chelsea round-up: Big Bundesliga moves eyed

Chelsea and Liverpool are both said to have taken steps forward towards the signing of Florian Wirtz.

Meanwhile, those same clubs will do battle for Karim Adeyemi, with the Blues joining their Premier League rivals in pursuit of the Borussia Dortmund attacker.

Also on the radar is Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios, who could take the place of a departing Chelsea man, with two midfielders potentially moving on.

And a new price tag for Viktor Gyokeres will be of interest to Chelsea, as well as multiple other Premier League outfits. It’s said the Sporting CP striker could cost just £63million next summer.

Osimhen’s Galatasaray form

Victor Osimhen has made a strong start at Galatasaray