Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has emerged as a major target for Spanish La Liga clubs Barcelona and Atletico Madrid as the summer transfer window draws closer, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian talismanic striker has been in sensational form for Galatasaray since his €75 million move from Napoli last summer.
There were initial fears this his move to Turkey, which is not highly rated in Europe, would make his levels drop.
However, he has proven himself, not just on the domestic scene, but on the international scene, as one of the best marksmen in world football.
Although the likes of Barcelona and Atleti are keen on acquiring his services, they aren’t the only ones keeping tabs on him. German giants Bayern Munich and Italian heavyweights Juventus are also heavily in the hunt for his signature.
But they face a big challenge. Even if they manage to strike a deal with Galatasaray, Osimhen himself might be the stumbling block to a move.
The Hurdle Clubs Interested in Victor Osimhen Will Face
Despite the heavy interest from the top European clubs in Victor Osimhen, there is a massive stumbling block.
According to Fichajes, per Bein Sport, the big issue these clubs will face is Osimhen’s astronomical wage demands.
Osimhen currently commands a handsome salary that very few clubs in Europe can comfortably afford. He currently earns net of €16 million yearly, an amount that many clubs won’t be willing to pay.
For Barcelona, who have been battling consistent financial problems for the past four years, matching his current pay grade would be an almost impossible task.
Although they have a few players who earn higher than what Galatasaray pay Osimhen, it is unlikely that they will be willing to meet Osimhen’s demands.
Even with the potential departure of high-earners like Robert Lewandowski, the Catalans would still struggle to fit Osimhen into their tight wage cap under La Liga’s strict regulations.
Similarly, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are wary of breaking their wage structures. While Diego Simeone is a big fan of the 27-year-old’s work rate and killer instinct, Atleti would need to offload several top stars to make the numbers work.
In fact, in their current wage bill, the highest earner gets €12.5 million net yearly, and that is Jan Oblak.
In Italy, Juventus are looking to maintain a leaner budget, and coughing out over €16 million a year for one player doesn’t seem to fit their current financial vision.
Even Bayern Munich, known for their financial discipline, might baulk at the total package required to bring the former Napoli man to the Allianz Arena.
While they need a clinical finisher, the Bundesliga giants already have a fat wage bill. And without consistent success on the continent, they might struggle to meet up.
So, as the summer window approaches, it remains to be seen if any of these giants will be able to pull off the deal.
Osimhen has proven his quality time and again, but his wages might just be the deal-breaker that keeps him at Galatasaray or pushes him toward a club with even deeper pockets.
