Arsenal Transfer News
Arsenal and the Osimhen Question: Ambition, Risk and Familiar Doubts
Arsenal are weighing Victor Osimhen, but the deal raises familiar doubts about fit and fitness.
Arsenal have reportedly opened discussions with Galatasaray over a possible move for Victor Osimhen, a development that would be striking for both its scale and its uncertainty. The 27-year-old has long been admired by Premier League clubs, and Arsenal have been among the most persistent admirers during his time at Lille, Napoli and now Galatasaray.
The Telegraph reported that talks have taken place between the clubs, although it remains unclear who made the first approach or what fee would be required to move him on. Galatasaray paid around $86 million (€75 million) for the striker only 12 months ago, and he is tied to the club until 2029.
Osimhen has not tried to shut down the speculation. Asked about possible movement away from Istanbul this week, he said: “There are always rumors during the transfer windows,” he warned. “I’ll focus on my job. I’m focused on my work. We’ll see and think about what comes next then.”
His record is difficult to ignore. The two-time Turkish champion has scored 61 goals in 75 appearances since arriving two years ago, and his direct style gives him obvious appeal. But Arsenal have already seen how a prolific forward from outside Europe’s top five leagues can struggle to translate that form into the Premier League.
That comparison naturally leads to Viktor Gyökeres, whose move from Sporting CP to Arsenal has not yet produced the sort of impact supporters hoped for. Despite 21 goals in all competitions last season, he failed to score from open play against any of the Premier League’s top six.
There are also fitness concerns. Over the past six seasons, Osimhen has missed 82 matches because of a range of physical problems, an average of more than 13 each year. For a team already dealing with attacking injury doubts, that is a serious consideration.
Mikel Arteta has said the club want to improve and evolve the squad, but Arsenal already have Gyökeres and Kai Havertz as central options, with Mikel Merino another emergency solution. On current evidence, left wing looks a more pressing area, especially if Gabriel Martinelli departs.
Arsenal
Arteta Praises Lewis-Skelly as Transfer Interest Emerges
Arteta praised Myles Lewis-Skelly’s preseason form as transfer interest surfaced around the Arsenal youngster.
Mikel Arteta has underlined Myles Lewis-Skelly’s value after a promising preseason, describing the teenager’s form as a “good sign” while rival interest continues to surface.
Reports have linked the Arsenal midfielder with outside attention, with The Guardian stating he was “offered” to United and that Chelsea were also “made aware of his availability.” BBC Sport, however, have reported that Lewis-Skelly remains determined to stay at the Emirates Stadium and fight for his place.
The England international added to his preseason momentum by scoring in Arsenal’s latest friendly, netting in the 1-1 draw with Como before celebrating with a heart gesture toward the home support.
Arteta declined to discuss the speculation after the final whistle, but was keen to assess the player’s contribution and attitude.
“It’s good to score a goal, you should be emotional when you score a goal,” Arteta responded when quizzed about Lewis-Skelly’s celebration. “He’s a very emotional player. I remember when he did all the gestures on the pitch [last season]. I’m not going to talk about any speculation.
“If there is a speculation about our player, it’s a good sign. That means that we attract attention and they’re doing a good job.
“I think he had a really good preseason. I think we asked him to play in a different position, because he played more as a six, because we lacked central midfielders, obviously with international duties, and I think he had a really consistent preseason.”
Lewis-Skelly’s immediate future remains unresolved, but his situation also sits against Arsenal’s wider squad planning. The club are looking to recoup funds after spending on Guimarães ($101 million), Christos Tzolis ($45.4 million) and Piero Hincapié ($45.4 million).
As an academy graduate, he would count as pure profit if sold, giving Arsenal greater flexibility before the September deadline. The club have already made four signings this summer, including Illan Meslier on a free transfer, but Arteta made clear more may still be needed.
“There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that,” Arteta insisted.
“We are actively trying to do so. The thing in the market is that it doesn’t just depend on you. We are very clear on that.
“But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that’s unquestionable. We want to try to do that. But we cannot promise that we’re going to do it because it doesn’t only depend on us.”
Arsenal Transfer News
Martinelli fee talk could hand Arsenal a new sales record
Arsenal could break their sale record if Gabriel Martinelli draws a higher bid than £35 million.
Arsenal may be on the verge of resetting their own transfer benchmark if the latest talk around Gabriel Martinelli develops further. The first reported proposal for the winger would surpass a club sale record that has stood since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left for Liverpool nine years ago, though the Gunners are said to want more.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move in the summer of 2017 brought in £35 million, a figure that has remained Arsenal’s highest outgoing fee ever since. Martinelli, meanwhile, is now the subject of interest from Galatasaray, who are understood to be offering £38 million to take him from the Premier League to Türkiye’s Süper Lig.
Even so, the player is not thought to be enthusiastic about that destination unless it is for a comparable top European league, which the Süper Lig is not. There had also been reported interest from Barcelona before the Catalans signed Anthony Gordon.
Arsenal are regarded as open to letting Martinelli go, but the price they want appears to be higher than the initial approach. The Daily Mail has suggested the club is holding out for about £50 million. Roma have also been linked, and their third-place finish in Serie A last season, along with Champions League football in the coming campaign, may make them a more attractive option. At this stage, though, there is no indication that an alternative offer has materialised.
The wider market context helps explain why this matters. In a system shaped by tighter financial regulation, clubs increasingly treat players as assets to be managed carefully, and selling well is now a major part of the game. Arsenal’s own record sale is modest beside those of their leading Premier League rivals, and moving Martinelli could also help them strengthen on the left side, with Leandro Trossard already traded for a younger option, Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for $45.7 million (£34 million).
Arsenal Transfer News
United and Chelsea pass on Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly amid uncertain future
United and Chelsea have both turned away from Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal weigh their next move.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both reportedly declined the chance to sign Arsenal left back Myles Lewis-Skelly, leaving the teenager’s situation in north London looking increasingly uncertain.
Lewis-Skelly has already shown enough to attract attention. He started the Champions League final, but the match ended in heartbreak for the newly crowned English champions. Even so, Arsenal’s long-term picture still appears positive, though perhaps less so for the 19-year-old.
Recent reports said Arsenal placed a $60.8 million (£45 million) valuation on the England international and made him available to United and Chelsea. According to The Telegraph, both clubs quickly turned down the opportunity. There is also a “strong feeling” the defender has been offered to other clubs as Arsenal continue to move their homegrown talent, with any departure producing pure profit.
Chelsea’s refusal is understandable given their recent business. Marc Cucurella has left the starting left-back role this summer, but the club have already secured Pep Chavarría as his replacement. The former Rayo Vallecano player signed a five-year deal on Wednesday and joined Xabi Alonso’s project for a fee of around $28.8 million. Chelsea have now spent more than $400 million this summer, bringing in Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Geovany Quenda, among others.
United remain less active in the market, though they are still looking for a left back and a third midfielder after already signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Lewis-Skelly could have covered both positions, but the club seem to be waiting on Newcastle United left back Lewis Hall instead. They have also been linked with Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, who can operate in midfield and at left back.
Lewis-Skelly’s breakout 2024-25 season was followed by a reduced role last term. Mikel Arteta preferred Piero Hincapié at left back, while Riccardo Calafiori also took minutes in that area. That pushed the teenager into midfield, where he even kept Martín Zubimendi on the bench for the Champions League final and started alongside Declan Rice.
