Victor Osimhen speaks on Arsenal transfer after £60m talks held with Galatasaray…

Victor Osimhen comments on Arsenal transfer following £60m discussions with Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen has been associated with a potential move to the Premier League, as Arsenal shows interest in the Galatasaray forward amid reported £58m transfer negotiations.

Osimhen has become an unexpected transfer target for Arsenal, and the Nigerian striker has provided a ‘wait and see’ response regarding speculation about joining the Premier League champions.

The 27-year-old has an impressive record of 61 goals in 75 matches for Galatasaray and 35 goals in 51 appearances for his national team. He has been a key player for the Turkish club since his controversial departure from Napoli. While he was prolific in Serie A, helping Napoli secure the title, he became involved in a contentious dispute with the club, which ultimately led to his loan move to Galatasaray and subsequent permanent transfer.

Regarded as one of the top strikers globally, he has been frequently linked with a transfer to England, primarily to Manchester United or Chelsea. However, his substantial £18m-a-year salary has often been a barrier. Recently, his name surfaced as a potential option for Arsenal during talks between the Gunners and Galatasaray, who were attempting to negotiate deals for Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli.

While Martinelli declined a move to Istanbul, Osimhen appeared to keep his options open when asked about the rumors connecting him to Arsenal, according to reports from the Mirror.

Although he did not outright dismiss the possibility of leaving Galatasaray, he was keen to stress that his focus is on pre-season training, with Arsenal reportedly considering a bid for the striker valued at £60m.

Osimhen stated: “There are always rumors during transfer windows. I will manage my affairs. I am concentrating on my work, and then we will see what happens next.”

He made a significant impact on the first day of the new Super Lig season on Friday, scoring twice as the defending champions drew 2-2 with newly promoted Çorum at RAMS Park.

In 2023, Osimhen openly expressed his desire to eventually play in the Premier League, coinciding with his remarkable performance for Napoli as they clinched the Serie A title.

“Playing in one of the top five leagues globally is an incredible experience for me,” he stated after receiving the ‘Best Foreign Athlete of the Year’ award from the Italian Foreign Press Association in 2023.

“Many people around the world view the Premier League as the best and most competitive league, but I am currently in one of the finest leagues, which is the Italian Serie A.

“I am putting in a lot of effort to realize my dream of playing in the Premier League someday, but as I mentioned, it’s a journey, and I aim to maintain this momentum and continue performing well.”

Currently, Arsenal has Viktor Gyokeres as their primary striker, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus also serving as central attacking options. Additionally, defensive midfielder Mikel Merino has demonstrated the capability to score when utilized as a forward by Arteta in previous matches.

Arsenal has also been rumored to be considering a move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, although the Spanish club is reportedly asking for over £100 million for the Argentine.

The Gunners have faced considerable challenges in securing their attacking targets this summer.

They have already seen attempts to acquire Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior fall through, with both players choosing to join Chelsea and stay at Real Madrid, respectively.