Arsenal reopen talks for Nigerian striker

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Copyright: xNewsxImagesxImago

Premier League champions Arsenal have reignited their pursuit of Super Eagles superstar Victor Osimhen ahead of a possible move from Galatasaray this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.

Osimhen’s future has been one of the major talking points of the summer, with doubts remaining over whether the 27-year-old will stay at Galatasaray just a year after completing a Turkish record €75 million permanent transfer from Napoli.

The Nigerian striker has attracted interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs following his impressive form in Turkey, while Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal have also made a strong push to sign him.

Osimhen has been in superb form since initially joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in 2024. He has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances for the Turkish champions, highlighting why the club were willing to make his move permanent last summer.

Galatasaray’s position throughout the summer has been clear: Osimhen is not for sale and the club see him as a key part of their plans for the 2026/27 season, while they recently reinforced that stance by rejecting a staggering €130 million offer from Al Hilal.

However, that position could change if talks over a potential transfer continue to develop.

Soccer Osimhen: Arsenal revive pursuit of Super Eagles forward

According to a report from The Telegraph, Arsenal remain keen on Osimhen and have reportedly reopened talks with Galatasaray over a possible transfer ahead of the new season.

The Gunners are still looking to strengthen their attack with a new centre forward after missing out on several targets, including Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior.

Arsenal’s attack struggled for consistency last season, and while Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez remains their preferred target, Osimhen is reportedly being considered as another option.

Interestingly, Galatasaray’s pursuit of Arsenal players could help bring the two clubs closer together. The Turkish champions have submitted a €45 million offer for Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, while they are also interested in young Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri.

Osimhen’s name reportedly came up during discussions between the two clubs over Martinelli, raising the possibility of a much bigger transfer conversation between Arsenal and Galatasaray.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in the Super Eagles striker as they continue to monitor his situation.

For now, Osimhen remains a Galatasaray player and is expected to feature when the Turkish champions begin their title defence against newly promoted Corum at Rams Park on Friday.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.

Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin