Victor Osimhen transfer saga takes dramatic twist as new club enters race to sign him as early as January

A new club has entered the race to sign striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli, according to a new report.

Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray but is expected to return to his parent club at the end of the season.

The Nigeria star was heavily linked with moves to Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League in the summer, but neither transpired and he sealed a last-minute temporary move to the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions in September.

He has already scored 10 goals in 13 games in all competitions for Galatasaray, who are top of the league as they look to defend their crown.

Osimhen netted a brace in his side's 3-2 Europa League win over Tottenham last month, in was what was a timely reminder, if needed, to European clubs of his talents.

Italian outlet Il Mattino now claim that a surprise club has entered the race to sign Osimhen - and it would result in his loan deal being terminated earlier.

It is reported that Manchester United are preparing to trigger the forward's €70 million release clause as early as January in a deal that would see him move to Old Trafford immediately.

Osimhen, however, has reportedly stated that he does not expect to be recalled by Napoli in January, with the Italian club's sporting director Giovanni Manna telling DAZN on Saturday: "Nobody called us ... I would say that we are talking about it too much. At the moment there is absolutely nothing and we are focused on the pitch."

Ruben Amorim already has striking options in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, though it appears he is keen to add more firepower to his struggling squad.

United are 13th in the Premier League after Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, and have now only won one of Amorim's four Premier League matches in charge thus far after his arrival from Sporting Lisbon as he looks to instil major tactical changes.