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Victor Osimhen

Arsenal have reportedly informed Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen that he must accept a substantial reduction in his wage demands if he hopes to complete a summer move to the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window closes.

The Gunners remain hopeful of landing the highly sought-after Nigeria international. Manager Mikel Arteta is extremely keen to strengthen his attacking options after failing to convince Atletico Madrid to sell Julian Alvarez, who reportedly prefers a move to Barcelona over a return to the Premier League.

According to FootMercato, Arsenal have held direct talks over a potential deal for Osimhen. However, the North London club is unwilling to make an excessive contract offer, leaving any potential agreement entirely dependent on the striker’s willingness to significantly compromise on his salary. The 27-year-old currently earns in excess of €20 million (£17.1m) annually at Galatasaray—a massive figure that Arsenal are strictly unwilling to match.

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Negotiating a transfer fee could prove to be another massive obstacle. Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has firmly insisted that the star striker is absolutely not for sale. This hardline stance was recently underlined by the Turkish club’s flat rejection of a staggering €130 million (£111m) offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal earlier this month.

Having missed out on Osimhen, Al-Hilal reportedly turned their attention to Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. However, their latest £45 million approach for the England international was also rejected, further highlighting the extreme difficulty clubs are facing in prising top forwards away from their current teams this summer.

Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his long-term future, Osimhen has enjoyed a scintillating start to the new season in Turkey. He recently scored twice and provided an assist in Galatasaray’s commanding 4-0 away victory over Erzurumspor on Friday, having also netted twice in a 2-2 draw with Corum FK on the opening day. The prolific forward is expected to continue leading the line for the Turkish champions as Arsenal eagerly await his final decision on a possible switch to the Premier League.