'I trust Batshuayi' - Galatasaray insider backs ex-Chelsea star to fill Osimhen's shoes but cites one flaw

Galatasaray insider Eyüp Yıldız is backing Michy Batshuayi to step into the shoes of Victor Osimhen, but noted that the Belgium international has a flaw. 

The Nigeria international will be unavailable for selection on Thursday when Galatasaray take on Swedish Allsvenskan club Malmo in the Europa League league phase. 

Manager Okan Buruk will be without his marquee center forward for the trip to Malmo due to a muscle injury he picked up during the hard-fought win against Sivasspor at the weekend.

No timeframe has been given by Galatasaray or their medical team regarding the return of Osimhen to the pitch, although it is being speculated that the Napoli loanee is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

Yıldız believes Batshuayi is capable of replacing Osimhen but highlighted that the former Chelsea striker is not as prolific as the 2022-2023 Serie A Best Striker. 

"Osimhen is out for 2 weeks but I trust Batshuayi. He will be effective when he plays as a classic centre forward and not as a link player," Yildiz told habersarikirmizi.com.

"Batshuayi is an effective name in the penalty area and around it, he also has aerial ball superiority. The only problem is that he misses a lot of goals but Osimhen was missing too."

While Osimhen has tallied ten goals in thirteen appearances across all competitions, Batshuayi, despite playing eight more games—mostly from the bench—has managed six goals.

Osimhen has started four of the five games contested by Galatasaray in the Europa League, contributing to five goals (3 goals, 2 assists).

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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