Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has claimed that Spanish giants Real Madrid are closely monitoring Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, with a potential move set for the summer should Brazilian winger Vinicius Jnr depart the club.

Osimhen, who completed a permanent transfer to Galatasaray this past summer, has been in sensational form for the Turkish side.

The Nigerian forward has already scored six goals in three UEFA Champions League games, placing him second on the competition’s scoring chart.

His remarkable performances have reignited interest from Europe’s elite clubs, with speculation mounting over a potential high-profile transfer.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr has yet to agree on a new contract with the Spanish giants, whose current deal with the winger expires in the summer of 2027.

Reports also suggest tensions between Vinicius and manager Xabi Alonso, fueling uncertainty over the Brazilian’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking on the Oliseh Insight Podcast, the former Super Eagles captain downplayed the influence of player power, asserting that the La Liga club would side with the manager over the player if the situation remains unresolved.

“Xabi Alonso is a top International. Xabi Alonso has proven his worth outside of Spain. He is a new manager that they have brought in,” Oliseh said. “Real Madrid have the luxury now that they can say to Vinicus go because if you go, Mbappe can now go back to his natural position. So, it is not as if we lose you and we lose something.”

The former Juventus midfielder further revealed that Osimhen is being considered as a potential successor.

“And there’s a lot of talk under the ground about the possibility of Osimhen being a candidate. I am not going to tell you how I got this information, but there’s a lot of talk. Let’s see how this plays out. But when I heard it from a top personality I was happy for the young man,” he added.

A transfer to Real Madrid would see Osimhen make history as the first Nigerian-born footballer to play for the senior side of the Spanish giants. While Nigerians Oladimeji Lawal and Mutiu Adepoju previously featured for Real Madrid B, none have represented the first team.

Adeyemi Adewale