Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen in January, joining Manchester United in the race for the highly sought-after Galatasaray forward, following a setback in Bukayo Saka’s injury recovery.
The Gunners are said to be considering triggering Osimhen’s £66 million release clause at Napoli, although negotiations will need to be held with both the Italian club and Galatasaray, where the striker is currently on loan. Arsenal’s interest has intensified after Saka was ruled out for over two months due to a hamstring surgery. Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the significant void created by the England winger’s absence.
“He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” Arteta stated. “It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer.”
United, who were initially seen as favorites to land the 25-year-old, are still in the running. Reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes suggest they have already opened talks with Osimhen’s representatives and are willing to pay £63.3 million, despite stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
Osimhen has been in excellent form since joining Galatasaray in September, netting 12 goals and providing five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions. However, he has expressed his commitment to the Turkish giants, stating, “I will not leave in January, I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season. I do not know what Galatasaray and Napoli are talking about afterwards, but if they come to me, we will talk.”
Former Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzaoğlu believes the Turkish club may not have the financial capacity to secure a permanent deal for Osimhen.
With crucial Premier League fixtures coming up against Brentford, Brighton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Wolves in January, Arteta is looking to bolster his attacking options. Arsenal is also reportedly monitoring Barcelona’s Dani Olmo and Wolves striker Matheus Cunha as potential alternatives.
United’s interest in Osimhen remains strong as they seek to address their goalscoring problems. With only 21 Premier League goals so far this season, they sit in 14th place, closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
The battle for Osimhen’s signature looks set to heat up in the coming weeks, as both Premier League clubs strive to reinforce their attacking strength for the second half of the season.