According to a Football Transfer report published on Friday, August 21, 2026, Arsenal have made their stance on Victor Osimhen clear as they consider whether to pursue the Galatasaray striker. The Nigeria international has attracted significant interest from the Premier League champions, but one major condition could determine whether a deal is completed before the summer transfer window closes.
Osimhen has made an encouraging start to the new season. He scored twice against Corum, helping Galatasaray salvage a draw in their opening Turkish Super Lig match. His contribution underlined his importance to the team, even as speculation about his long-term future in Istanbul continued to dominate headlines.Galatasaray have consistently insisted that Osimhen is not for sale, despite the growing attention from clubs across Europe. The striker joined the Turkish side permanently last summer for a club-record fee of €75 million. As a result, any potential transfer would involve a substantial financial commitment and would likely require Arsenal to negotiate both a significant fee and demanding personal terms.
Arsenal’s interest in Osimhen reportedly emerged during discussions with Galatasaray about Gabriel Martinelli. The Nigerian forward was mentioned during those conversations, and his possible move to north London has remained a subject of interest throughout the transfer window. Reports from Foot Mercato indicate that Arsenal’s pursuit is genuine rather than merely exploratory.Manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be seeking stronger competition and additional depth for Viktor Gyokeres in attack. Arsenal have therefore been assessing several alternatives as they look to improve their offensive options. Their interest in Osimhen is said to have intensified after Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez indicated that he was not keen on moving to England, prompting the Gunners to focus more closely on the Galatasaray forward.However, Arsenal remain cautious because of Osimhen’s salary demands.
The club are unwilling to undermine their existing wage structure and reportedly have no intention of matching his annual net earnings of approximately €20 million. For a transfer to become realistic, Osimhen would therefore need to accept a reduced salary or agree to terms that fit within Arsenal’s financial framework.Arsenal are consequently refusing to make an excessive financial commitment simply to secure the striker. While Arteta values Osimhen’s goalscoring ability, physical presence, and experience at the highest level, the club will only move forward if the overall cost becomes manageable. Unless the player lowers his wage expectations and Galatasaray’s demands can be met, completing the transfer this summer is likely to remain difficult.
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