Chelsea have reportedly made initial contact over a potential move for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, with Turkish champions Galatasaray said to be demanding €150 million for the Nigerian forward.
The development comes amid growing speculation about Osimhen’s future following comments by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who recently explained why the striker was omitted from Nigeria’s squad for the June friendly matches against Poland and Portugal.
According to Chelle, the decision was influenced by the possibility of a transfer move during the summer window.
“Victor Osimhen will not be in our friendly matches against Poland and Portugal. Because there may be a possibility of a club change. Therefore, I preferred him to stay at home. If your mind is not 100 per cent here, going out on the field to play does not create a good situation,” Chelle said.
However, Osimhen swiftly dismissed the transfer rumours, insisting that the coach’s remarks had been misunderstood.
Taking to Instagram, the 27-year-old clarified that Chelle’s comments had been taken out of context and stressed that there was no controversy regarding his future.
“I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview. Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games and never intended to create any controversy. I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter,” Osimhen wrote.
Nigeria’s media team also moved quickly to clarify the coach’s comments after they generated widespread headlines.
Despite Osimhen’s denial, interest in the prolific striker remains strong across Europe. The former Napoli star has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United, where reports suggest he is among the club’s top attacking targets for the summer transfer window.
According to Turkish outlet Sabah, Chelsea made contact over a potential deal on June 1, 2026, and are expected to intensify their pursuit in the coming weeks. Galatasaray, however, are reportedly unwilling to consider any offer below €150 million for a player they signed from Napoli for €75 million last summer.
Osimhen enjoyed another impressive campaign, scoring 15 league goals and registering five assists in 22 appearances as Galatasaray successfully defended the Turkish Super Lig title. He also contributed seven goals and three assists in the UEFA Champions League, helping the club reach the Round of 16.
With Europe’s top clubs monitoring his situation, Osimhen’s future is expected to remain one of the major talking points of the summer transfer window.