Galatasaray have rejected a £111m bid from Al-Hilal for Victor Osimhen, underlining the challenge facing Arsenal in their pursuit of the Nigerian striker. The Gunners have expressed interest in the 27-year-old as they negotiate with the Turkish champions, who are determined to keep their star forward.
Arsenal's Record Spend Required
The rejection of the Saudi Arabian offer suggests Arsenal would need to exceed £111m to land Osimhen, which would break their club-record transfer fee. The ex-Napoli striker scored 22 goals in all competitions last season and helped Galatasaray win the league title.
Arsenal remain in talks with Galatasaray, who are keen on some of their players. The Turkish side have indicated they would pay around £38m for Gabriel Martinelli, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates. That deal would represent a major profit for Arsenal, who signed the Brazilian in 2019.
Nwaneri's Future in Question
Ethan Nwaneri, who spent last season on loan at Marseille, is also linked with a move. The teenager is thought to prefer a switch to Germany, with Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig both interested.
Mikel Arteta is seeking a marquee attacker this summer, having missed out on Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior. Rogers ultimately joined Chelsea for a British-record fee, with Arsenal refusing to match the price.
Striker Search Intensifies
Arsenal spent £64m on Viktor Gyokeres last summer, but the Swede was not entirely convincing in his debut year. He was overlooked for the Champions League final, prompting Arteta to seek more firepower. Osimhen, approaching his prime, is a different type of attacking player, and strikers who guarantee goals are among the most expensive assets on the market.
