Victor Osimhen: Is Galatasaray striker too expensive for Barcelona?

FC Barcelona could struggle to sign Victor Osimhen this summer, with fresh reports in Spain suggesting the deal may be too expensive for the La Liga champions, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Catalan club are actively searching for a new centre-forward as veteran striker Robert Lewandowski approaches the final phase of his career at the age of 37. Barcelona already possess exciting attacking talents such as Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, but replacing Lewandowski requires a proven elite goalscorer.

Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry recently named Osimhen and Erling Haaland among the few strikers capable of lifting Barcelona’s attack to another level. While Haaland remains almost impossible to lure away from Manchester City, Osimhen is viewed as a more realistic option.

🚨🗣️ Thierry Henry:

“Barcelona need a real number 9. A top, top striker. I’m talking about killers in the box like Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland or Harry Kane. Proven finishers, not projects.

When you have a talent like Lamine Yamal giving you those balls, you must score.… pic.twitter.com/wW3eBIeFnC

— Mr Wills (@MrWills96) February 18, 2026

However, money remains the biggest obstacle. Barcelona once spent heavily on players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann, but the club now operates under tighter financial controls. Even recent arrivals like Ferran Torres were completed with careful budgeting in mind.

Osimhen’s situation makes negotiations difficult. Galatasaray paid €75 million to sign the Nigerian striker from Napoli and are believed to value him close to €100 million. His reported salary of around €15 million per year, rising further through bonuses, is also beyond Barcelona’s current wage structure.

As a result, Spanish reports claim Barcelona are already studying alternative attacking options.

Victor Osimhen: Barcelona consider cheaper alternatives

One of the names gaining attention is Mexican striker Armando Gonzalez, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Chivas Guadalajara.

The 22-year-old forward has impressed during the 2025/26 season, winning the Liga MX Apertura MVP award and finishing as top scorer with 12 goals in 14 starts. His rapid rise has also earned him regular involvement with Mexico’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona have already contacted Gonzalez’s representatives about a possible summer move. The striker is reportedly valued at around €20 million. A similar offer from CSKA Moscow was accepted by Chivas, but Gonzalez chose to stay in Mexico to secure regular playing time and strengthen his chances of making the World Cup squad.

Other lower-cost solutions have also entered discussions, with players such as Karl Etta‑Eyong, Fisnik Asllani and even Dušan Vlahović, potentially available as a free agent, mentioned as alternatives.

Barcelona’s striker hunt continues for now, but Osimhen’s price tag may ultimately push the club toward a more affordable future option.