Arsenal’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen has been officially acknowledged by Galatasaray, with Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta having discussions regarding the potential cost of acquiring the striker.
Berta was recently observed attending a Galatasaray match alongside the club’s president, fueling speculation that he was gathering information on a possible transfer for Osimhen. Arsenal are reportedly seeking to bolster their attacking options this summer, with Osimhen identified as a key target alongside Julian Alvarez and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Galatasaray vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu indicated that the Turkish club would be reluctant to part with Osimhen for anything less than a substantial fee. “I wouldn't sell him for €150 million, but it's a matter for our president to decide,” Kavukcu told HT Spor, via habersarikirmizi.com. He also highlighted the financial disparity between the two clubs, stating that Arsenal’s budget of €800 million contrasts with Galatasaray’s €500 million.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray last summer for a fee of €75 million following a successful loan spell from Napoli. Kavukcu emphasized the difficulty in securing Osimhen’s signature, revealing that they had rejected a €90 million offer from another club. He stated that Osimhen personally expressed his desire to join Galatasaray, even turning down a potential €100 million bid. The club expects to generate approximately €22 million from Osimhen’s continued presence.
Kavukcu detailed the complex financial arrangements involved in securing Osimhen from Napoli, praising the club’s president for providing a personal guarantee to facilitate the transfer. He elaborated on Napoli’s firm stance on the transfer fee and the need for a letter of guarantee even for a cash payment. Osimhen has been consistently linked with moves to the Premier League throughout his career, but ultimately chose to join Galatasaray.
This confirmation of Arsenal’s interest, coupled with Galatasaray’s valuation of the player, sets the stage for potential negotiations in the upcoming transfer window. Securing Osimhen would represent a significant addition to Arsenal’s attacking lineup, while Galatasaray would need to identify a suitable replacement should they decide to sell.
