Napoli rejects Galatasaray’s €65m bid for Osimhen as Everton eye Awoniyi

Serie A leader Napoli has rejected a €65m bid from Galatasaray for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
Turkish giants Galatasaray have sent a €65m offer to sign Osimhen on a permanent transfer from Napoli, but the Partenopei have rejected the proposal, according to Corriere dello Sport.
At the same time, Osimhen has a €75m clause included in his contract and Napoli are unwilling to sell the Nigerian for a lower fee.
Corriere dello Sport reports that Osimhen’s clause is valid from January and that Galatasaray are the only club that can get the Nigerian striker for a lower fee.
The clause for January is reportedly worth €81m as Galatasaray has the right to a €6m compensation if Osimhen moves elsewhere halfway through the season.
This is why the Turkish club can sign Osimhen for €75m this month. Any other club can sign Osimhen for the same fee starting next summer.
Osimhen’s clause was initially worth €130m, but it was lowered last summer when the striker signed a new deal with Napoli before joining Galatasaray on loan.
And Everton are said to have their eye on Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi as the January transfer deadline nears.
Awoniyi has struggled for regular minutes for the Reds so far this season. Behind top scorer Chris Wood in the pecking order, he has largely had to settle for coming off the bench in games.
It has led to speculation about his future, despite both the forward and head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insisting he can have a role to play in the remainder of the campaign. West Ham United have already been credited with an interest in Awoniyi, and now the Toffees are said to be keen.
According to the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, the Merseyside club are targeting a potential late swoop for the Forest frontman. The 27-year-old is said to be among some names on the Toffees’ shortlist as they seek attacking reinforcements, with a reported £33.5 million cash pot to use on signing two players.
Awoniyi has made 20 appearances in the Garibaldi so far this term but has not yet hit the performance levels he has shown previously on the banks of the Trent. His only goal to date came in the 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.
Nuno has backed Awoniyi to get back to his best but has admitted he needs more game time to do so. Asked about rumours linking the Nigeria international with the Hammers earlier this month, the Reds boss said he was not aware of any transfer talk.
“We hope that he progresses with the fitness level because we know the talent and the quality he has,” Nuno said at the time. “He is a goalscorer.
“He always has an impact, he always has chances. That is what you can say about Taiwo. Is there something I do not know? There are rumours?”