Arsenal have joined Premier League rivals and Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, with the Gunners exploring a January move for the Galatasaray loanee.
According to transfer expert Pete O’Rourke, Arsenal are exploring a move for the Nigeria international “as they look to bolster their attacking options before the close of the transfer window.”
The 26-year-old striker, who joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in September 2024 after proposed moves to Chelsea and Saudi Arabia collapsed, has been in scintillating form, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this season.
RAI Sport reports that while Osimhen’s release clause drops to €75m next summer, any January move would cost around €90m, with Galatasaray entitled to a portion of the transfer fee.
However, the Turkish giants have repeatedly insisted that the striker will remain at the club until the end of the season, with their coach and directors maintaining this stance despite growing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
The Nigerian recently rejected a chance to join Manchester United in a potential swap deal involving Marcus Rashford, prompting an angry response from Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Osimhen’s current deal with Napoli runs until 2026, with a clause extending it to 2027 agreed before his loan move to Turkey. While his Napoli salary stands at €10m, Galatasaray pays just €6m for the current campaign.
His contributions have transformed Galatasaray into the only unbeaten team among Europe’s top eight leagues across domestic competitions and European tournaments, increasing interest from several clubs.
Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed that Galatasaray were “100 per cent convinced” of retaining Osimhen’s services until the season ends, despite mounting pressure from potential suitors.
