Osimhen to the Premier League in January? What Arsenal, Chelsea & Man Utd must do

Victor Osimhen’s Premier League dream did not come true in the summer, but the story is far from finished, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 27-year-old striker is tied to Galatasaray until June 2029 after the Turkish champions paid Napoli €75 million for him last year. His contract includes a €15 million net annual salary, a €1 million loyalty bonus and €5 million per season from image rights.

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole believes Osimhen has the pace, power and goals to succeed in England. Osimhen has scored 65 goals in 78 appearances for Galatasaray, adding to his record in France and Italy.

The next realistic opportunity could come in January.

Galatasaray hold the key

Any January move starts with Galatasaray. Club president Dursun Özbek confirmed in March that Osimhen’s contract has no release clause, meaning Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United cannot simply pay a fixed amount and take him. Galatasaray must agree to sell.

That gives the Turkish champions strong negotiating power. They rejected a reported £111 million offer from Al-Hilal in August and maintained that Osimhen was not for sale.

A serious Premier League offer would therefore need to be substantial, particularly with the former Lille striker contracted for another two-and-a-half years.

The salary could be just as difficult

The transfer fee is only one part of the problem.

Galatasaray’s official agreement puts Osimhen’s annual salary at over €20 million. An English club would need to build a package that makes financial sense for the player while also covering the transfer cost.

That could make negotiations more complicated than simply agreeing a fee with Galatasaray. No Premier League club has shown interest in matching Osimhen’s current wages. Interestingly, the Super Eagles striker could be willing to take a pay-cut for the right project.

Who has the strongest reason?

Arsenal currently have the clearest case. The Premier League champions made contact with Galatasaray during the summer and sent a formal letter of interest, although no official bid followed.

Chelsea have the longest history with the Nigeria international. The Blues were heavily involved in discussions during his Napoli years, making another approach possible if their attack needs strengthening.

Manchester United have repeatedly been linked with the Nigerian, but they signed Benjamin Sesko in 2025, giving them another established No.9. That has reduced the urgency at Old Trafford, but results continue to falter.

What happens next?

The 2027 Premier League winter window opens on January 1 and closes on February 1 at 23:00 GMT.

By then, three things could decide Osimhen’s future: Galatasaray’s willingness to negotiate, an English club’s ability to meet the financial demands, and Osimhen’s own desire to finally turn his Premier League dream into reality.