Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen
Arsenal and Barcelona have emerged as Victor Osimhen’s latest suitors.
Galatasaray initially signed the striker on loan from Napoli in September 2024 and paid €75m to make his stay permanent the following year.
His performances, especially in the Champions League, have seen Arsenal and Barcelona take notice.
Since moving to Istanbul, he’s scored 57 goals and contributed 15 assists in 72 matches, of which 20 goals and seven assists from this season. That includes seven goals and three assists in the Champions League.
The Nigeria international’s league stats this season are as follows:
Appearances: 20
Starts: 17
Total minutes: 1,539
Minutes per game: 77
Goals: 13
Assists: 4
Big chances created: 5
Big chances missed: 18
Two days ago, Sport Witness covered claims from Turkey that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta followed Galatasaray’s 3-0 win over Fenerbahçe last weekend.
Arsenal and Barcelona keen
AS now pick up on that and cover the latest on Andrea Berta’s trip to Istanbul and about Barcelona’s interest in Victor Osimhen.
The Gunners official recently travelled to Turkey to closely watch the frontman, Barıs Alper Yilmaz and Uğurcan Çakır.
Turkish journalist Özgür Sancar covers this report for the Spanish newspaper, and makes it clear it’s his own information.
Mikel Arteta’s side are a ‘strong contender’ to sign the former Napoli man. During his trip to Turkey, the sporting director made an approach to find out the conditions needed to sign him.
There’s no mention of the fee needed or Galatasaray’s position on selling the frontman in the next window. As well as the Gunners, other clubs are also in the mix.
This includes Barcelona, who are in the market for a striker to replace 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski. However, the La Liga winners’ financial situation would make any potential deal complicated. That may not be the case with the north London club.
Agent gives his opinion
Agent Mithat Halis was at the agency that represented Osimhen when he was at VfL Wolfsburg. He spoke to AS and encouraged the player to join Barcelona or Real Madrid.
“Signing Osimhen is very realistic. It could even exceed €100m. His transfer could be between Real Madrid and Barcelona. One has given up on Lewandowski. The other doesn’t have a centre forward,” he said.
“Real Madrid hasn’t had a centre forward since Karim Benzema’s time. They’re forced to play Mbappé and Vinicius as strikers. If they sign Osimhen, Mbappé and Vinicius will play in their natural positions, as wingers, and will be more effective. Victor Osimhen would be a very functional player for Real Madrid.”
Arsenal’s current options and targets
Mikel Arteta has Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as the three options up front.
Jesus could leave the Emirates after this season while Havertz has struggled with injuries in recent years. Both Arsenal and Barcelona are already looking at Atlético Madrid star Julián Alvarez and Victor Osimhen can be an alternative to the Argentinian.