Arsenal Sporting Director Andrea Berta Holds Talks With Galatasaray Over Victor Osimhen Transfer

Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker has moved beyond the speculative stage after sporting director Andrea Berta made a personal trip to Istanbul, where he attended Sunday’s Intercontinental Derby and held direct talks with Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek, according to reports.

Berta was present as Galatasaray dismantled fierce rivals Fenerbahce 3-0, with Victor Osimhen among the scorers — a timely reminder of the Nigerian forward’s quality at the highest level. Following the match, discussions with Ozbek reportedly took place, marking what appears to be Arsenal’s first formal move for the Super Eagles striker.

Turkish journalist Serkan Korkmaz, who has been closely tracking developments, was unequivocal about the Gunners’ intentions. “Arsenal’s target is Osimhen!” he stated, before adding: “The Arsenal sporting director and Özbek met last night. Any other claims about what was discussed in their private meeting are not true.”

Osimhen, 27, has continued to demonstrate his value despite a campaign disrupted by injuries and Nigeria’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. In just 20 Super Lig appearances this season, the striker has registered 13 goals and four assists. That return builds on an exceptional previous campaign in which he scored 37 goals in 41 matches across all competitions for Galatasaray.

The Nigerian forward joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli ahead of the 2024/25 season after a proposed move to Saudi Arabia fell through. His performances in Turkey have since rekindled widespread European interest, with several top clubs monitoring his situation as his future beyond the current arrangement remains unresolved.

At Arsenal, the search for a reliable centre-forward has become a pressing concern. Viktor Gyökeres, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon last summer, has not provided the consistent goal threat the club anticipated, according to reports. Despite Arsenal maintaining a strong position in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League this season, their attacking output has drawn scrutiny — a gap that Osimhen’s profile would be expected to address.

Berta’s decision to attend the Istanbul derby in person and engage directly with Galatasaray’s leadership represents a significant escalation in Arsenal’s interest, distinguishing the north London club from other reported suitors at this stage of the transfer process. Whether a formal bid follows will depend on negotiations over what is expected to be a substantial transfer fee for one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards.