Arsenal end Osimhen chase – Report
Arsenal have ended their pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with the North London club now focusing on other targets to solve their centre-forward crisis, PUNCH Sports Extra reports
According to The Athletic, there is a divide between Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta regarding their preferred striker signing for the upcoming transfer window.
Berta is said to admire Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, while Arteta reportedly favours Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, though the Magpies are reluctant to part with their star forward without a substantial fee.
Galatasaray’s Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli, has been linked with the Gunners in recent months, but an official bid has never materialised as the club shifts focus to other targets.
The 26-year-old Nigeria international has been in scintillating form this season, netting 20 goals in 23 league appearances for Turkish giants Galatasaray.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is also being scouted as a more affordable option amid competition for his signature, making Gyokeres a viable candidate for the Gunners.
The Swedish striker has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards since joining Sporting, amassing an impressive record of 85 goals and 26 assists in 92 appearances, including 30 goals in 26 league matches this season as he helped Sporting secure the Primeira Liga title.
Arsenal’s need for a reliable striker has intensified following injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Arteta without a recognised centre-forward and forcing midfielder Mikel Merino to fill that role in recent matches.
The Gunners’ previous attempts to strengthen their attacking options included an unsuccessful bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and failed loan negotiations for Alvaro Morata, who ultimately signed with Galatasaray.
Osimhen, who played a crucial role in Napoli’s scudetto-winning campaign in 2023 by scoring 26 goals to become the first African to win the Serie A top scorer award, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation since his fallout with the Italian club.
Juventus are reportedly preparing a player-plus-cash deal to sign the Nigerian from Napoli, with defender Federico Gatti potentially included to entice their Serie A rivals into negotiations.
Chelsea also maintain a long-standing interest in the Super Eagles striker, with former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant recently telling Talk Sports; “Osimhen would change things for Chelsea without a shout of a doubt.”
The Nigeria international recently made headlines on international duty after surpassing Segun Odegbami’s 44-year-old goalscoring record for Nigeria, netting his 24th, 25th and 26th goals for the Super Eagles during their March international break.
