Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly preparing to hijack Victor Osimhen’s proposed return to Galatasaray after Napoli left the Nigerian striker out of their pre-season training camp.
The 26-year-old recently returned to Naples following the end of his loan spell at Galatasaray, where he scored an impressive 37 goals in 41 appearances. However, he is among six players excluded from the 30-man squad travelling to Dimaro Folgarida for pre-season under new head coach Antonio Conte. Osimhen had submitted a medical note excusing himself from the pre-season tests, as he pushes for a permanent move back to the Turkish side.
According to L’Équipe, PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos has been in direct contact with Osimhen in an effort to derail Galatasaray’s move. Campos, who brought Osimhen to Lille in 2019, maintains a strong relationship with the forward and could pose a serious obstacle to Galatasaray’s plan to secure a €75m permanent deal.
The Turkish champions are currently negotiating the structure of the transfer with Napoli. Despite a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, Osimhen is said to be open to staying in Europe. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that talks are active, stating on X: “Negotiations between Napoli and Galatasaray for Victor Osimhen are again underway right now. Napoli sent their counter-proposal to Galatasaray, ready to make decision soon on new conditions. Osimhen keeps waiting.”
Meanwhile, doubts have been raised over whether Osimhen would fit into PSG’s tactical plans. Bruno Satin, the former agent of Kalidou Koulibaly, expressed scepticism about the move, saying: “Osimhen? I don’t know if PSG can count on him. Luis Enrique’s first choice isn’t to have a traditional striker; he always prefers to use Dembele as a ‘false nine.’ Signing Victor would make him a starter, which could complicate the mechanisms already in place with the Frenchman.”
Napoli continue to value Osimhen at €75m despite the expiration of his release clause earlier this week. The Italian club are reportedly seeking €50m upfront, with the remaining €25m payable by the end of 2026. Galatasaray have agreed to issue a letter of credit to guarantee full payment, although administrative formalities may delay the deal.
Other players left out of Napoli’s pre-season squad include Cyril Ngonge, Walid Cheddira, Jesper Lindstrom, Michael Folorunsho, Jens Cajuste, and Giuseppe Ambrosino.
