Arsenal Osimhen Transfer Talks: Wage Demands Stall Move, Will The Deal Be Completed?
Arsenal have opened talks with Galatasaray over a move for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, 27, according to French outlet Foot Mercato, as the Premier League champions look to bring in a reliable goalscorer to compete with Viktor Gyokeres and give manager Mikel Arteta more attacking options. However, the same reporting suggests the transfer is far from straightforward, with the two clubs and player still some distance apart on the key terms needed to get a deal over the line.
Osimhen racked up 30 goal contributions for Galatasaray last season, a record that has made him a firm favourite of Arteta’s as the north London club continues searching for reinforcements up front. Despite that interest, an offer to the Turkish side is not thought to be imminent, with the two parties remaining some way apart on personal terms. At Galatasaray, Osimhen currently earns a net annual salary of around 20 million euros and is tied to a contract running until 2029.
According to the same Foot Mercato reporting, Arsenal are unwilling to match those wages and would need Osimhen to accept a pay cut if he wants to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will nonetheless press on with their interest in the striker if the Nigerian agrees to take a reduced salary compared to his current Galatasaray terms.
Beyond the wage standoff, there are also reported hurdles on the fee itself. Galatasaray, who had Osimhen on loan for the 2025/26 season before triggering a permanent option, are understood to value the striker at around £38 million, and a bid from Arsenal for the forward has already been rejected, suggesting the Turkish club is holding out for a higher fee than what has so far been offered. Galatasaray developed a strong bond with Osimhen during his time in Istanbul, and the player himself is reported to have enjoyed his spell there considerably, adding a further layer of complexity to any potential move away.
The situation echoes a recurring pattern in Osimhen’s transfer history. Fabrizio Romano previously explained that Arsenal were offered the chance to sign Osimhen from Napoli back in June, when his release clause sat between €120 million and €130 million, and the north London club decided against investing that amount of money on a single striker, prioritising cheaper alternatives instead.
Arsenal, who begin their title defence away to newly promoted Coventry City, clearly view Osimhen as a player capable of adding proven firepower to their attack. Whether that ambition translates into an actual transfer now hinges on two separate obstacles falling into place: Galatasaray softening their valuation of the striker, and Osimhen himself agreeing to take less money than he currently earns in Turkey. Until both sides move closer together on those two fronts, the deal remains some distance from completion, with reports suggesting talks are ongoing rather than at an advanced stage.
As of the time of filing, neither Arsenal nor Galatasaray had issued an official statement on the state of negotiations, and it remains unclear whether Osimhen himself has communicated a willingness to accept reduced terms in order to force through a move to the Premier League.
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