Victor Osimhen steps in as Galatasaray battle Fenerbahçe for Paul Onuachu transfer

Victor Osimhen has entered the conversation as fierce rivals Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray both try to land Trabzonspor star Paul Onuachu before the new Süper Lig season begins, Soccernet.ng reports.

Fenerbahçe have made the first major move by offering €20 million plus forward Oğuz Aydın in exchange for the 31-year-old striker, according to HalkTV. The player-plus-cash proposal is designed to tempt Trabzonspor because manager Fatih Tekke is believed to be a long-time admirer of Aydın and would welcome him into his squad.

Despite the offer, Trabzonspor are standing firm. Club officials value Onuachu between €25 million and €30 million, while several reports suggest president Ertuğrul Doğan would even prefer a fee closer to €30 million before allowing the club's leading scorer to join a direct domestic rival.

The Nigerian international added a major boost to his profile in Turkey after a remarkable campaign. He finished last season with 22 Süper Lig goals, won the league's Golden Boot, and helped Trabzonspor lift the Turkish Cup. His performances have also attracted interest from Saudi Pro League clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal, both of whom reportedly submitted lucrative financial offers.

Trabzonspor, however, have already rejected bids from Fenerbahçe and also turned down a major offer from Saudi Arabia. Vice President Zeyyat Kafkas has made the club's position clear by insisting that the core of the squad will not be broken up unless an exceptional offer arrives. While Trabzonspor hope to keep their star striker, they are also preparing for every possibility by identifying Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov as a potential replacement if a club eventually agrees to pay the required fee.

Osimhen takes on ‘secret agent' role for Galatasaray

While Fenerbahçe are negotiating with cash and players, Galatasaray are relying on their record signing, Victor Osimhen.

The Super Eagles forward has reportedly become Galatasaray's unofficial “secret agent” as he tries to persuade his Nigerian teammate to choose the reigning Turkish champions instead of their Istanbul rivals.

According to reports, Osimhen has been using the close relationship he shares with Onuachu through the Nigerian national team to personally encourage him to move to Galatasaray. The club also sees Osimhen's influence as a valuable tool in the transfer market.

This is not the first time Osimhen has been linked with helping Galatasaray recruit players. Club insiders say he previously used FaceTime calls to convince midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu to reject other offers and complete a move to Istanbul. He has also been connected with discussions involving fellow Nigerians Ademola Lookman and Tolu Arokodare.

Football journalist Zeki Uzundurukan reports that direct negotiations between Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are expected to begin in the coming days as the champions prepare their own attempt to sign Onuachu.

At the moment, Onuachu remains under contract at Trabzonspor until June 2028 and is said to be happy at the club after enjoying the best league season of his career.