Arsenal Pursue Victor Osimhen Amid Wage Demands
Arsenal are pushing to bring Victor Osimhen to the Emirates before the transfer window shuts – but only if the Galatasaray striker climbs down from his current wage demands.
Mikel Arteta has made a new centre-forward a priority after failing to prise Julian Alvarez away from Atletico Madrid, with the Argentine said to favour Barcelona over a return to the Premier League. That setback has sharpened Arsenal’s focus on Osimhen, whose form and profile fit the template Arteta wants at the top of his attack.
Wage wall between Arsenal and Osimhen
According to FootMercato, Arsenal have already held direct talks over a deal for the Nigeria international. The London club are prepared to commit, but not at any price.
Osimhen, 27, earns in excess of €20m (£17.1m) a year at Galatasaray. Arsenal are not ready to match that package, and any agreement now hinges on whether the striker is willing to accept a reduced salary to make the move to north London.
The Gunners’ stance is clear: they want Osimhen, but they will not rip up their wage structure to get him. For a club that has spent years trying to tidy up the financial consequences of past big-money contracts, it is a line they are determined to hold.
Galatasaray dig in after huge bid rejected
Even if Osimhen softens his demands, Arsenal still have another problem: Galatasaray. President Dursun Ozbek has repeatedly insisted the forward is not for sale, a position backed up by the Turkish champions’ actions in the market.
Earlier this month, Galatasaray turned down a €130m (£111m) offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Rejecting that kind of money sent a blunt message to Europe’s elite: if you want Osimhen, you will have to move mountains.
That refusal has not only strengthened Galatasaray’s bargaining position, it has also reshaped the striker market. Clubs chasing a top-level No. 9 are discovering just how hard it is to tempt key forwards away this summer.
Al-Hilal, rebuffed in their pursuit of Osimhen, quickly switched their attention to Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Their latest £45m offer also hit a brick wall, underlining again how reluctant clubs are to cash in on their main goalscorers, even for substantial fees.
Osimhen keeps scoring as speculation swirls
While the negotiations and rumours swirl around him, Osimhen has simply carried on scoring.
He struck twice and added an assist in Galatasaray’s 4-0 win at Erzurumspor on Friday, a dominant display that underlined his importance to the Turkish champions. That followed another brace in a 2-2 draw with Corum FK, giving him four league goals already this season.
There has been no sign of distraction. No drop in intensity. Osimhen continues to lead the line, and Galatasaray continue to build their attack around him.
For now, that is where he is expected to stay. Arsenal wait, hopeful that the lure of the Premier League and a starring role in Arteta’s project can persuade the Nigerian to compromise on his salary and push for the move.
Galatasaray, armed with a recent €130m rejection and a striker in red-hot form, show no inclination to blink first.
