Osimhen: Arsenal step up pursuit of Nigerian star – 2 major obstacles revealed

English Premier League champions Arsenal are showing serious interest in signing Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray this summer, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Gunners remain keen to strengthen their centre-forward options and are actively pursuing a new striker, with Osimhen and Argentine forward Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid among their preferred targets.

Arsenal have maintained a long-standing interest in Osimhen, but their pursuit has gained more momentum recently after they reopened talks over a potential move for the Nigerian striker.

The 27-year-old has been in superb form since joining Galatasaray in 2024, scoring 63 goals in 76 appearances across all competitions for the Turkish giants. He has also started the new season strongly, finding the net four times in his first two games.

That remarkable scoring record is one of the major reasons behind Arsenal’s interest in the 27-year-old. However, despite their desire to bring him to the Emirates Stadium, a deal is unlikely to be straightforward.

According to Metro, two major issues must be resolved before Arsenal can complete a deal that would see Osimhen leave Galatasaray and make the move to England.

Osimhen must lower his wage demands for Arsenal deal to happen

The first major obstacle is Osimhen’s salary. The Super Eagles forward earns around €21 million per year at Galatasaray, making him the highest-paid player in the Turkish league.

However, Arsenal are not prepared to match that package and would only be willing to push ahead with a deal if Osimhen agrees to lower his wage demands.

The Nigerian forward has previously turned down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, where he was offered a staggering salary, so it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to take a pay cut to secure a move to the Premier League.

Arsenal are particularly keen on Osimhen because of the difficulties involved in trying to sign Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, making him an attractive option for Mikel Arteta’s side.

A move to Arsenal would offer Osimhen the opportunity to compete regularly for major trophies while also fulfilling the prospect of playing in the Premier League. However, his willingness to sacrifice part of his current salary could ultimately determine whether the transfer becomes possible.

Arsenal must meet Galatasaray’s asking price

The second major obstacle is Galatasaray’s valuation of their star striker. Even if Arsenal can reach an agreement with Osimhen over personal terms, they would still have to satisfy the Turkish champions’ demands for a transfer to go through.

Reports have claimed that Galatasaray are seeking around €150 million for the Nigerian and have already rejected an offer worth €130 million from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. However, there has been no official confirmation from the club regarding their exact asking price.

Galatasaray signed Osimhen permanently from Napoli for €75 million after his successful loan spell, and they are expected to demand significantly more than that figure if they are to sanction his departure.

Arsenal could potentially afford such a deal, especially if they raise funds through player sales. Victor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have all been linked with possible exits before the summer transfer window closes, which could help the Gunners finance a major move for Osimhen.

For now, Arsenal’s pursuit of the Nigerian remains complicated by both his salary demands and Galatasaray’s transfer valuation.

If those two issues can be resolved, the path could be clear for Osimhen to end his two-year spell in Turkey and begin the next chapter of his career in the Premier League.