Arsenal's reported talks for Victor Osimhen are running into the sort of numbers that usually decide a transfer before it gets anywhere near a medical. Galatasaray paid €75 million (£64.8m) to sign him from Napoli, rejected a €130 million (£111m) offer from Al Hilal, and Football365 reported that Osimhen wants around £400,000 per week to move to the Premier League.

Galatasaray's stance and the price tag

Galatasaray's own history with the deal matters here. They did not bring Osimhen in as a short-term loan stopgap, and the fee they paid from Napoli gives a clear sense of how highly they rate his market value. Turning down €130 million from Al Hilal only adds another layer to that.

That does not mean Arsenal cannot talk. It does mean any approach has to fit a much bigger structure than a normal striker bid. The club are already expected to operate at the top end of the market, and Mikel Arteta has said elite players are hard to find while Arsenal are still trying to improve.

Osimhen's output keeps him in demand

The appeal is obvious enough. Osimhen has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances for Galatasaray, while another source frame puts him at 22 goals and 8 assists in 33 outings across all competitions. However it is measured, the production is the reason Arsenal are looking at him in the first place.

Patrice Evra was equally direct when he spoke about the striker profile he values. "A striker, someone who scores a goal. I think that's what I'm looking at. That's why for me, Osimhen is the best. He's a perfect example."

John Obi Mikel has also pushed the same line from a different angle. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "I think we want to see him in the Champions League so maybe Arsenal might be the destination. Maybe there is a door open there for Victor." He added that Osimhen is working towards a top European league and Champions League football.

Arsenal's interest is real, but this is still a difficult negotiation. The fee, the wages and Galatasaray's position all have to line up before the conversation turns into something bigger. The latest reports leave Arsenal in discussion, not at the finish line, and Osimhen remains under contract at Galatasaray after that €75 million move from Napoli.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →