Fenerbahçe have entered a critical phase in their efforts to secure Bright Osayi-Samuel’s future as two English clubs have reportedly expressed interest in the Nigerian star, Soccernet.ng reports.
With the 26-year-old’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, the club’s management has accelerated negotiations in a bid to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
According to reports in the Turkish media, one of the interested English clubs is from the Premier League, while the other competes in the Championship.
This interest has prompted Fenerbahçe to intensify talks with Osayi-Samuel, with plans to meet him in January to seek an agreement on an extension.
Osayi-Samuel, who joined Fenerbahçe from QPR in 2021 for €508,000, is believed to be asking for a salary increase, which has slowed the negotiation process.
Despite this, the club is working hard to retain the player, who has been a key part of the squad since his arrival, making 145 appearances, scoring 7 goals, and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
This season, Osayi-Samuel has played in six matches, registering one assist.
However, his progress has been interrupted by an ankle injury sustained during Fenerbahçe’s Europa League match against Union SG, where he was also sent off after coming on as a substitute.
As a result, the Nigerian defender was unavailable for the recent Antalyaspor clash.
Fenerbahce coped well in Osayi-Samuel's absence as the club secured a 2-0 victory in an encounter that saw manager Jose Mourinho punished for his laptop antics.
With the win, Fener climb to second on the Turkish Super Lig table behind Victor Osimhen's Galatasaray.
It’s exciting to see Super Eagles players attracting interest from the Premier League! This could open up new opportunities for them and elevate their careers. As for downtime, Retro Bowl is a fantastic game to unwind with some nostalgic football fun.