Galatasaray have sought the support of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in their pursuit of fellow Nigerian attacker Ademola Lookman, asking him to utilise his influence to persuade his international teammate to move to Istanbul this summer.
According to Turkish football outlet Fotomac, the Turkish champions are reportedly interested in signing Lookman from Atlético Madrid, where the 28-year-old has been one of the club’s most impressive performers since joining from Atalanta for €35 million in the January transfer window.
Lookman scored five goals and assisted four times in 24 games for Diego Simeone’s side, helping them reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and the Copa del Rey final, with key goals against Barcelona in both competitions.
Galatasaray’s decision to approach Osimhen as an informal mediator reflects the scale of the challenge they face in pulling off the transfer.
Atlético Madrid, who have already lost Antoine Griezmann and are navigating exit talks involving Julian Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth, would be deeply reluctant to sanction another high-profile departure.
Lookman’s versatility and productivity make him precisely the type of player Simeone is unlikely to release without significant resistance.
The financial obstacle is equally daunting.
Lookman’s salary in Spain is understood to be considerably higher than what Galatasaray currently pay most of their players outside of Osimhen’s exceptional €21m-per-year arrangement, and closing that gap would require a creative financial structure.
Whether Galatasaray can arrange an offer enticing enough to turn Atlético Madrid’s head, with or without Osimhen’s influence, remains the major question in what appears to be a complicated and tough transaction.
