The Victor Osimhen transfer saga took another dramatic turn in July 2025, with the Nigerian striker’s wage demands proving to be the decisive factor in Manchester United’s failed pursuit. Recent reports is that Osimhen has refused to reduce his salary demands to accommodate Manchester United’s wage structure, effectively ending their hopes of securing his signature.
Manchester United seem to have hit a roadblock in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen, with the striker refusing to reduce his wages for a move to Old Trafford. This development has proved to be the final nail in the coffin for United’s ambitious pursuit of the prolific striker.
The salary negotiations have been a persistent stumbling block throughout the transfer window. Manchester United remain interested in Victor Osimhen but his wages at Napoli and Galatasaray prove that Ineos would have to break the bank to secure his services. According to recent reports, Victor Osimhen’s potential move to Manchester United hinges on astronomical wage demands that would reportedly exceed even Bruno Fernandes’ current salary at the club.
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The Preferred Destination
With Manchester United out of the picture due to salary constraints, Galatasaray has emerged as Osimhen’s preferred destination. According to Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen has now decided he wants to sign for Galatasaray on a permanent basis, claiming he enjoyed his year in Istanbul so much that he now wants to return and has no desire to move to Saudi Arabia, despite their very lucrative offer.
Victor Osimhen is ready to seal a return to Galatasaray and did not want to wait for Liverpool or Manchester United, signaling his clear preference for the Turkish giants. This decision comes after an exceptional season in Turkey where he made history.
Record-Breaking Performance at Galatasaray
Osimhen’s preference for Galatasaray is hardly surprising given his outstanding performance during his loan spell. The striker has returned to Naples upon the expiration of his loan deal at Galatasaray. He enjoyed a prolific campaign in Turkey, scoring 37 goals across all competitions.
Osimhen maintained impressive goal-scoring form while on loan at Galatasaray last season, scoring 37 goals in 41 matches, establishing himself as one of the most lethal strikers in European football
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Current Status and Napoli’s Position
Osimhen has officially returned to Napoli following the conclusion of his season-long loan spell at Galatasaray. Considered one of Europe’s best strikers, the Nigeria international moved to Turkey last summer after falling out with the club’s hierarchy in Naples.
However, Napoli have no plans to reintegrate Osimhen into their squad and the Scudetto winners are waiting for a concrete offer from interested clubs. With only one year left on his contract at Napoli, a return to the Serie A champions has already been ruled out.
The Manchester United Perspective
Manchester United begun initial talks over a deal to land on-loan Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen when he returns to Napoli, but these discussions appear to have stalled over wage demands.
Manchester United are hoping to sign the Napoli striker Victor Osimhen at the end of the season, and they will have to pay substantial wages to get the deal done. However, the club’s new ownership structure under INEOS has implemented a more stringent wage policy, making it difficult to accommodate Osimhen’s demands.
Victor Osimhen continues to attract many top European clubs, with at least eight teams showing concrete interest in the Napoli striker in recent weeks. However, his clear preference for Galatasaray, combined with Manchester United’s unwillingness to meet his wage demands, suggests the Turkish route is the most likely outcome.
The Nigerian striker’s decision to prioritize his happiness and comfort at Galatasaray over potentially more lucrative moves to the Premier League shows his commitment to continuing his excellent form in Turkey. For Manchester United, this is a missed opportunity to secure one of Europe’s most prolific strikers, but their stance on wage structure alignment may prove prudent in the long term.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on whether Galatasaray can finalize an agreement with Napoli to make Osimhen’s return permanent, potentially ending one of the summer’s most protracted transfer sagas.
