Victor Osimhen will readily approve a move to Arsenal if Galatasaray change their stance and agree a deal with the Premier League champions, according to reports in Turkey.
The Gunners are interested in signing a new striker before the end of the summer transfer window after Viktor Gyokeres’ mixed first season at the Emirates Stadium.
Gyokeres scored 21 goals in all competitions as Arsenal won a long-awaited Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, but the Sweden international nevertheless received criticism from fans and pundits.
Arsenal expressed interest in Julian Alvarez earlier in the summer but Atletico Madrid have already rebuffed several approaches for the Argentine World Cup finalist.
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The possibility of signing Osimhen was raised as Galatasaray approached Arsenal to discuss deals for Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.
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Osimhen has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League throughout his career and came close to joining Chelsea two years ago.
Now Arsenal are considering bringing the Nigerian to England, with reports in Turkey claiming Mikel Arteta remains ‘determined’ to strike a deal.
Osimhen refused to rule out a move away from Galatasaray last week but the Turkish club have so far ruled out a summer sale, even rejecting a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League.
But Arsenal are still believed to be pursuing Osimhen, who has scored an impressive 61 goals in 75 games in Turkey, and will try to make a breakthrough before the transfer deadline.
And the Gunners have been given fresh hope of a deal with Turkish journalist Serdar Ali Çelikler claiming on NEO Spor that there is ‘no chance’ Osimhen would reject Arsenal.
In an exclusive interview with Metro last year, John Obi Mikel claimed Osimhen was keen to join a club capable of winning the Champions League and advised him against a move to the Saudi Pro League.
‘I think we want to see him in the Champions League so maybe Arsenal might be the destination. Maybe there is a door open there for Victor,’ said Obi Mikel, who was involved in Chelsea’s failed bid to sign Osimhen two years ago.
‘I’ve had a few conversations with him. I won’t say much about what those conversations were but he is working to make sure he ends up at a top, top European league where he can showcase his talent and compete to win the Champions League.’
