Man United, Liverpool, and Osimhen all lose if Galatasaray deal goes through

I’ve been following the Victor Osimhen transfer saga for months, and just when I thought it would end in a blockbuster move to England, things seem to be heading in a different direction.

Soccernet.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian star is linked with a return to Galatasaray—yes, the same club where he lit up the Super Lig last season.

It’s a decision that could reshape his career—and leave clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool kicking themselves.

Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray will definitely leave Man United, and Liverpool empty-handed. Meanwhile, the Nigerian also risks losing some kind of visibility except Cable TVs start streaming Galatasaray matches.

In short, Man Utd, Liverpool, Osimhen, everybody go collect!

— Ayomide Oguntimehin (@ayo_oguntimehin) July 9, 2025

United’s Attack Is Broken—and Osimhen Knows It

Manchester United had a disastrous 2024/25 season, finishing 15th on the league table with just 42 points. That’s not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing for a club of their stature.

And when you score only 44 goals in 38 matches, there’s only one place to look: the attack.

Rasmus Højlund was meant to lead the line, but he simply couldn’t deliver. Now, the club is desperately searching for a new striker. Of course, Osimhen’s name has come up again. But the twist is that United aren’t willing to pay his wages. And Osimhen, quite rightly, isn’t ready to take a pay cut.

If he eventually returns to Galatasaray, that might just force United to settle for Ollie Watkins—a decent striker, sure—but not quite Osimhen. Not by a mile.

Back to Istanbul: Where Osimhen Was King

I still remember how Osimhen tore through the Turkish league last season. On loan at Galatasaray, he scored 37 goals in 41 games. That wasn’t just form—it was dominance. He picked up the Golden Boot and fired Galatasaray to the Super Lig title.

The fans loved him. The city adored him. And now, the club is reportedly ready to pay him €16 million annually to build their Champions League push around him.

Some might call it a step backward, but for a player who knows his worth and wants to be the centrepiece of a project, maybe it makes sense. Still, I can’t help but wonder if this is a missed opportunity—for him, and for the big Premier League clubs.

Salah x Osimhen? Liverpool’s Dream Duo That Might Never Happen

Liverpool are in a similar boat. They’ve admired Osimhen from afar for a while now. Under new boss Arne Slot, he’s been linked again, and many of us imagined what a Salah–Osimhen front line would look like.

Even El-Hadji Diouf weighed in, saying the combination could work just as well as Salah and Mané did in their prime. And honestly? I agree.

“I am convinced that it could work,” Diouf told Africa Foot. “They are two footballers with different characteristics, but who could very well get along.”

But again, the same problem: no concrete offer from Liverpool. Why? The wages.

Darwin Núñez, who only scored five league goals last season, is somehow still on big money. So why hesitate to give a proven goal-scorer like Osimhen the same respect?

£300k for Flops, But Not for Osimhen?

At this point, I have to ask—why is it so hard for clubs to pay Osimhen what he’s worth? We’ve seen average players in Europe rake in £300,000 per week without half the impact.

Could it be because Osimhen is African? I hate to go there, but it’s hard to ignore the patterns. When it comes to backing African talent at the highest level, the hesitation is always louder than the applause.

That’s a conversation we’ll need to have soon. But for now, Osimhen has to make a career-defining decision, and Premier League clubs are dragging their feet.

One Move, Two Fates: Osimhen’s Career at a Crossroads

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh hit the nail on the head when he said:

“Victor Osimhen is at a very delicate crossroads. He needs to find his way to the Premier League in a hurry or he risks so much regret!” he wrote on his X (formerly Twitter).

And I agree. The Premier League remains the most-watched league across Africa. The visibility, the endorsements, the legacy—it’s all there.

Returning to Galatasaray, no matter how loyal the fans are, could cost Osimhen the global spotlight he truly deserves.

But can I blame him? When United, Liverpool, and Arsenal won’t budge on his wage demands, maybe he’s just choosing the one club that truly values him.

If Osimhen returns to Turkey, I’ll understand. But I’ll also remember this as the moment the Premier League let a world-class striker slip through its fingers—again.