Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has revealed that the club is placing greater emphasis on signing Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen, than pursuing Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
Although negotiations with Calhanoglu are at an advanced stage, the Turkish giants have reportedly decided to put those talks on pause as they intensify efforts to secure Osimhen’s signature.
Reports emerged hours ago suggesting Galatasaray have submitted a third offer to Napoli for the Nigerian striker.
According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the new proposal aligns with Napoli’s asking price, consisting of €40 million upfront and an additional €35 million in installments.
In an interview with Sporx, Buruk confirmed the shift in priorities, stating that the club would momentarily step back from the Calhanoglu pursuit to focus on the high-profile move for Osimhen.
“Everyone wants him, he’s one of the best midfielders in Europe,” Buruk said of Calhanoglu. “I’ve known him since he was 16, and his love for Galatasaray is immense, but the Osimhen issue is becoming more important in terms of budget. We’ll make our moves later.”
Speaking further about Calhanoglu, the Galatasaray boss explained, “He currently plays for a team that expects a significant income. If you sell a player of that calibre, you’ll pay a lot of money for a player of the same calibre, so Inter’s expectations are normal.
“It’s important to get certain players,” he added, “but we don’t know what our budget will be or what the other side’s expectations will be. The numbers for these types of players are very high. For now, we haven’t taken any steps in this direction.”
