Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta was in attendance at Galatasaray's derby win over Fenerbahce on Sunday, with a view to scouting striker Victor Osimhen, according to reports from Turkey. Berta was pictured meeting with Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek, with local outlet AS claiming the primary objective of the trip was to assess Osimhen firsthand and gather information on his potential availability.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international, who joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli for €75 million last summer, scored his 13th Super Lig goal of the season in the 3-0 victory. The reports suggest Arsenal's long-standing interest in the prolific forward has been revived ahead of the summer transfer window, though any deal would be complex and costly.
Osimhen has been frequently linked with a move to the Premier League in recent years, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United all cited as potential suitors. Historical concerns over his significant salary demands and the overall financial package reportedly cooled Arsenal's interest in the past, leading to his move to Turkey. Despite having three years remaining on his contract and expressing contentment in Istanbul, a move to a top European league is thought to remain an ambition for the player.
For any transfer to materialize, Galatasaray would be expected to command a fee exceeding Osimhen's current Estimated Transfer Value of €76.7 million as they seek to turn a profit on their record signing. Arsenal's pursuit is likely contingent on several factors, including potential outgoing transfers to raise funds. Forwards Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have both been linked with possible exits, which could free up both space in the squad and significant finances for a marquee attacking addition.
The scouting mission also reportedly covered two other Galatasaray players: forward Baris Alper Yilmaz, who scored from the penalty spot in the same match, and goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Yilmaz, with eight goals and ten assists this season operating across the front line, fits a profile of versatile attacker Arsenal are said to be monitoring. A move for the 30-year-old Cakir, however, is considered less likely given his age and the €27.5 million fee Galatasaray paid for him.
Arsenal invested heavily in a new striker last summer with the signing of Viktor Gyokeres, but manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be keen on further evolving his attacking options to maintain a Premier League title challenge. Securing a player of Osimhen's caliber, a former Serie A champion and Golden Boot winner with Napoli, would represent a major statement of intent. The direct involvement of a key decision-maker like Berta in scouting signifies a concrete step beyond mere speculation, though negotiations with Galatasaray would be challenging.
