Prince Nawaf to meet Galatasaray over Victor Osimhen after €150m Al Hilal bid

Al Hilal president Prince Nawaf bin Saad is preparing to travel to Istanbul for direct talks with Galatasaray over a possible deal for Victor Osimhen, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Saudi Pro League club has already increased its offer for the Nigeria striker to €150 million after Galatasaray rejected an earlier proposal worth €130 million. The latest offer is part of an aggressive attempt by Al Hilal to convince the Turkish champions to sell one of their most important players.

According to a report by KooraBreak, Prince Nawaf has told Galatasaray that he will come to Istanbul himself if negotiations become formal. That would put the Al Hilal president directly into talks with Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek at a time when the Saudi club is trying to force a breakthrough.

Al Hilal have also put a huge salary package on the table. Osimhen has reportedly been offered €50 million a year, adding another major financial incentive to a transfer that could become one of the most expensive deals in football history.

Earlier reports revealed that Galatasaray rejected the €150 million proposal despite the increase from the initial €130 million offer, claiming that Özbek had made it clear that the club did not want to sell Osimhen.

Galatasaray’s position creates a difficult problem for Al Hilal. The Turkish club paid Napoli €75 million to sign Osimhen permanently last year, making him the most expensive player in Turkish football.

Osimhen quickly became central to Galatasaray’s attack and has also attracted attention from clubs in England. Arsenal have been linked with the 27-year-old this summer, while Tottenham and other Premier League clubs have also been mentioned in reports around his future.

The Saudi proposal is especially significant because Osimhen has spoken openly about his desire to play in England.

In March 2023, while still at Napoli, Osimhen told reporters that playing in the Premier League was his dream. He said he was working hard to achieve that goal but described it as a process. Sky Sports reported at the time that Manchester United were among the clubs interested in him, while Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea had previously tracked him during his time at Lille.

That ambition could be important as Al Hilal try to persuade him to choose Saudi Arabia over England.

The current reports also suggest that money alone may not settle the issue. Galatasaray have rejected the €150 million offer, while reports from Turkey say Osimhen is happy at the Istanbul club and focused on the new season.

Al Hilal’s pursuit has therefore reached a decisive stage. The club have raised the transfer fee from €130 million to €150 million and are prepared to put a €50 million annual salary in front of Osimhen.

Now Prince Nawaf is reportedly ready to take the next step himself by travelling to Istanbul if formal negotiations begin.

Galatasaray, however, have already rejected the latest proposal. That leaves Al Hilal with a clear choice: increase the pressure with another offer or try to convince Özbek that €150 million is too much to turn down.