By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Former Nigeria forward Brown Ideye has spoken out in support of Victor Osimhen amid growing uncertainty over the striker’s next move, following reports of high wage demands that have reportedly deterred top European clubs.
Osimhen, who impressed during his loan stint at Turkish champions Galatasaray SK, is seeking a permanent move.
However, negotiations have stalled, with only Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal reportedly remaining in the race—an offer Osimhen is said to have turned down in favour of a return to European football.
Despite his proven talent and market value, the Super Eagles striker is struggling to secure a deal with leading clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal, all of whom have reportedly dropped their interest.
Brown Ideye, reacting to the ongoing saga via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, backed Osimhen’s demands and questioned the reluctance of top clubs to meet them.
“I don’t believe the top 5 clubs in Europe can’t pay 350 or 400k a week for a player like him,” he wrote on X.
“When players that are not on his level earn the same amount,” Ideye posted, prompting a wave of responses from fans and pundits alike.”
While Napoli remain open to letting Osimhen go, and Galatasaray are ready to make his move permanent, the striker’s next destination remains uncertain.
As the summer transfer window heats up, questions around Osimhen’s valuation and suitors continue to dominate headlines.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
