Victor Osimhen inserts transfer 'clause' in Galatasaray deal to allow for Arsenal or Chelsea January move

Arsenal and Chelsea could still get the chance to sign Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen within four months should they wish to rekindle a deal. The frontman looks set to join a new club in the coming days after he agreed a shock loan move to join Turkish club Galatasaray.

After the European summer transfer window came and went, with Chelsea failing to get a deal done with Osimhen, the Nigerian was left with only two choices - Turkey or Saudi Arabia. With both of those counties’ windows remaining open, Osimhen is still free to make the move to those countries, but staying put is not an option with Antonio Conte freezing him out of his Napoli squad. The Serie A club have already signed Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea as his replacement.

The Blues looked set to sign Osimhen on deadline day, but their wage offer is said to have fallen well short of Osimhen’s expectations, scuppering a deal. Asper various reports, Osimhen is now set to join Galatasaray on loan, already agreeing terms and set to fly to Turkey on Tuesday night to finalise a deal.

According to Sky Sports Italia via The Standard, though, there are a few caveats in the deal. They say Osimhen has agreed a deal with Napoli to lower his release clause from £109.5million to £63.2million. He has also agreed that Napoli can extend his contract if he is not sold next summer.

Even more importantly, the loan deal with Galatasaray reportedly has a clause built in where he will be allowed to end his loan move early if a top European club comes in for him in January, giving the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, who have both shown interest, a chance to seal a deal.

The assumption, however, is that the clause will only become activated if a purchase is made rather than another loan proposal, and both London clubs do have to be careful with Profit and Sustainability rules. Should a deal be done, Osimhen would not be cup tied in European competition because Galatasaray are in the Europa League. Arsenal are in the Champions League this season while Chelsea are in the Conference League.