Galatasaray’s costly Victor Osimhen deal opens door for Arsenal and Juventus

Victor Osimhen’s future in Istanbul is already under the spotlight, barely a year after he completed a high-profile permanent move to Galatasaray, Afrik-Foot.com reports.

Europe’s elite are once again paying close attention, with Arsenal and Juventus both emerging as serious admirers of the Nigerian striker.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s long-term recruitment plans appear to centre on Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.

🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Victor Osimhen has reached 200 career goals, what an impressive milestone! pic.twitter.com/FXNsn4zZSz

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) February 4, 2026

According to Fotospor, the Premier League side have earmarked around €100m for the Argentine, who joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024.

However, with Alvarez under contract until 2030 and unlikely to be easily prised away, Osimhen has reportedly been identified as a leading alternative.

The 27-year-old also arrived in Turkey for €75m and remains tied to Galatasaray until 2029. While club officials are reluctant to consider a sale in 2026, sources suggest a bid in the region of €100m could force discussions, particularly if the striker signals a desire to return to one of Europe’s top leagues.

Osimhen himself is believed to be open to a spell in the Premier League, having already conquered Serie A with Napoli.

Victor Osimhen: Galatasaray’s financial strain sparks Juventus interest

Galatasaray’s financial commitment to Osimhen has meanwhile drawn attention from Serie A, with Juventus monitoring developments closely, as per Foot Italia.

Head coach Okan Buruk recently lifted the lid on the economic weight of the deal, hinting at the sacrifices involved in keeping the striker in Istanbul.

He said: “Galatasaray’s transfer fees and salaries have been going up since last year. With Osimhen’s transfer fee and salary, you could probably put together a full team.

“We need to take these things into account. We brought in some very important players for the team, such as Singo, Ugurcan, Sane, and Ilkay. Every team has a budget, and when you set up budgets at the start of the season, you need to follow that budget closely.”

Those remarks have resonated in Turin, where Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is keen on a reunion with the striker he guided to a historic Serie A title at Napoli in 2023. Osimhen flourished under Spalletti, scoring 26 league goals in that Scudetto-winning campaign.

With Juventus planning to reshape their attack, including a potential departure for Dusan Vlahovic, Osimhen is viewed as a marquee replacement. While the forward once pushed hard to leave Italian football, his bond with Spalletti and Galatasaray’s financial balancing act could yet reopen the door to Serie A.

Osimhen continues to deliver on the pitch where he has 14 goals and one assist in 20 games across all competitions for Galatasaray. The former Lille forward also fired in four goals and added two assists in six matches for Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was named in the Team of the Tournament, after helping the Super Eagles claim a bronze medal.