Seven words that changed the transfer window
“We’ll see, and we’ll think about the future.” Victor Osimhen said it on Friday night, shirt still soaked, minutes after scoring twice in Galatasaray’s 2-2 draw with Corum. Asked directly about Arsenal, the Nigerian did not deny anything.
He started carefully. “There are always rumours during transfer windows.” He talked about his day-to-day work in Istanbul, about staying focused. Then came the part everyone in England noticed.
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The 130 million problem
Galatasaray paid Napoli 75 million euros for Osimhen last summer, after a loan spell that convinced everyone in Istanbul. That fee dragged the Turkish market into a bracket it had never touched. Mohamed Salah and Dusan Vlahovic followed the same road this summer.
FootballTransfers reports the only serious conversations so far have been between Galatasaray and the striker’s representatives. His name surfaced again while the Turkish club chased Gabriel Martinelli. That one died quickly, the winger having no interest in moving to Turkey.
Then there is the price. Sky Germany says an intermediary carried a 130 million euro bid from Al-Hilal to Galatasaray, and the Turkish club said no. Arsenal building a package around that number is close to fantasy.
Arsenal are shopping for something else entirely
The Gunners spent big on Viktor Gyokeres a year ago. FootballTransfers says there is no plan to replace the Swede this summer. What Mikel Arteta wants is a left-sided forward and a defender.
The same outlet reported back in May that Arsenal had Julian Alvarez in mind for the left of the front three, a partner for Gyokeres rather than a rival for his shirt.
Osimhen turns 28 before Christmas. He has never bothered hiding how much he wants the Premier League. Every window that passes makes that move a little harder to arrange.
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