Arsenal Sporting Director Andrea Berta has held preliminary transfer discussions with Galatasaray to assess a move for striker Victor Osimhen. Berta was in attendance for the Istanbul derby on 26 April to scout the 27-year-old forward, who moved permanently to Turkey from Napoli for €75m in 2025. According to reports from Goal and AS, Berta met with the Galatasaray board following the match to discuss the feasibility of a deal that could reach as high as €150m (£129.5m).
Berta meets Galatasaray hierarchy over potential deal
Following the scouting mission, Galatasaray vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu confirmed to HT Spor that he met with Berta to discuss the club's financial positioning and Osimhen's status. Kavukcu noted that the Arsenal executive was surprised by the Turkish champions' significant financial outlay, stating, "The Arsenal sporting director came here recently and even he was surprised that we were paying these amounts." While Turkish journalist Serkan Korkmaz reports that Osimhen is Arsenal's primary summer target, any deal remains commercially complex. Galatasaray’s reported €150m valuation would shatter Arsenal's transfer record—the £105m paid for Declan Rice in 2023—and necessitates careful navigation of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Arsenal seek clinical edge despite Gyökeres signing
Mikel Arteta’s interest in Osimhen signals a potential shift in Arsenal’s frontline dynamics just 12 months after signing Viktor Gyökeres for €75m. While Gyökeres has returned a respectable 21-goal haul this season, he is understood to have struggled with specific tactical demands in Arteta’s system. Osimhen provides a more traditional profile, having registered 20 goals and 8 assists in 32 appearances during the current campaign. The Nigerian international’s physicality and penalty-box efficiency are viewed as the final components required to elevate the squad, particularly as the club prepares to listen to offers for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. However, the player himself recently told media he has "found a home" in Istanbul, adding a layer of personal resistance to a potential Premier League switch.
Arsenal must now decide whether to formalise their interest with a structured bid or pivot to alternative targets as the summer window approaches.