Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray are planning to offer Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen a €3m annual pay rise to €15m per year in a bid to convince him to join the club permanently following his remarkable loan spell from Napoli, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 26-year-old Nigerian forward currently earns around €12m per year at Galatasaray, but according to Il Napolista, the Istanbul giants are prepared to increase their offer to €15m annually – approximately €288,000 per week – which would represent the highest salary in the striker’s career and the most lucrative deal Galatasaray have ever offered a player.

Osimhen has enjoyed a sensational campaign at Galatasaray following his season-long loan move from Napoli last summer. Many initially thought the Nigerian international would simply be marking time in Turkey after Napoli excluded him from their plans for the season, but he has quickly become a fan favourite and one of the club’s most valuable assets.

The striker’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary, contributing 37 goals and eight assists in 41 appearances for the Lions whilst forming a strong connection with supporters. His prolific form proved instrumental in securing Galatasaray’s record 25th league title and Turkish Cup double.

Osimhen concluded his loan spell in style, netting his 37th goal for the club in their 2-0 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir in their final match of the 2024/2025 season at RAMS Park on Saturday. The striker found the back of the net in the 81st minute, heading home Kaan Ayhan’s cross from the right wing at the far post to double Galatasaray’s advantage after Dries Mertens had given them the lead with a 17th-minute penalty.

The victory marked Galatasaray’s 10th consecutive win across all competitions, with what could prove to be Osimhen’s farewell appearance for the newly crowned Süper Lig champions providing a fitting end to a remarkable individual campaign.

Galatasaray have been clear about their intentions to retain Osimhen beyond this summer, with club vice-president Kavukcu confirming earlier this month that moves were already underway to secure a permanent transfer.

“We talked to my president about Osimhen in January,” Kavukcu said. “We told Osimhen in January, ‘We want you very much, don’t go anywhere. We are working to get your transfer.’ We are developing projects for this. We developed them to sit at that table and we are at that table right now. We are ready to get his transfer and pay the salaries he will receive from Europe.”

The club’s determination to keep their star striker has been matched by fan devotion, with supporters launching increasingly creative campaigns to persuade the Nigeria international to remain in Istanbul. This has included a heartfelt plea displayed on a Times Square billboard in New York City as part of an ongoing #staywithus campaign.

Earlier this week, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Osimhen’s future whilst expressing hope he would remain, saying: “The player will decide about his future. He made an incredible contribution here. We need to respect him, but we are hopeful that he will stay with us.”

However, significant obstacles remain to any permanent deal. Napoli, who hold Osimhen’s registration, value their striker at around €70 million and are unlikely to reduce their valuation of one of their biggest assets. The Serie A club’s hefty asking price presents the biggest challenge to Galatasaray’s ambitions of securing a permanent transfer.

The big question now is whether Galatasaray possess the financial resources to meet both Napoli’s transfer demands and Osimhen’s enhanced salary expectations. Whilst the Turkish champions have demonstrated their commitment through the improved contract offer, bridging the gap to Napoli’s €70 million valuation represents a far more complex challenge.

With his loan spell now concluded, the striker is set to return to Napoli this summer, though his future remains the subject of intense speculation. His impact on Turkish football and Galatasaray’s historic season will not be forgotten by the club’s supporters, who continue to hope their enhanced financial package will be enough to secure his permanent signature.