Chelsea have entered the race to sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray, with the Turkish champions reportedly demanding €150m for the Nigerian forward, according to reports emerging from Turkey.

The development follows remarks by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who confirmed that Osimhen was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming June friendlies against Poland and Portugal due to ongoing transfer discussions, a statement that immediately triggered fresh speculation about the 27-year-old’s future.

“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% here, going out on the field to play does not create a good situation,” Chelle said.

Osimhen himself, however, was quick to douse the flames, dismissing the transfer speculation and clarifying that Chelle’s comments had been taken out of context.

“I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” he wrote on Instagram.

“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.”

The Super Eagles media team also moved to clarify Chelle’s original remarks shortly after they sparked headlines.

Despite Osimhen’s denial, interest in the striker remains intense across Europe. Reports have previously linked him with Manchester United, where he is said to top the club’s five-man striking shortlist for the summer window. Sources close to the player have indicated that he would only consider leaving if Galatasaray themselves decide to sell.

According to Turkish newspaper Sabah, Chelsea have moved to initiate contact over a potential summer deal, with the London club expected to make official attempts during the transfer window. Galatasaray, however, have made their position clear, with the club’s management unwilling to entertain any offer below €150m for a player they purchased from Napoli for €75m last summer.

On the pitch, the Nigerian had another outstanding season, scoring 15 league goals and providing five assists in 22 matches as Galatasaray retained the Turkish Super Lig title. He also contributed seven goals and three assists in the UEFA Champions League as the club reached the round of 16.