Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has urged Arsenal to prioritise the signing of Napoli’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen over Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak in the upcoming summer transfer window.
With the Gunners on the hunt for a clinical centre-forward, Cole believes Osimhen ticks all the boxes for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal title-chasing side.
“Osimhen—I know he’s had this little strange one where he’s gone to Turkey and he’s banging in goals,” Cole said on The Dressing Room Podcast. “But he looks perfect for Arsenal for me.”
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Osimhen’s stellar form in Turkey
Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in sensational form, scoring 29 goals and providing six assists in 33 appearances under manager Okan Buruk.
The 26-year-old has played a crucial role in the club’s push for the Turkish Super Lig title, with Galatasaray now six points clear at the top following a 2–0 win over Samsunspor on Friday night.
After scoring in that game, Osimhen addressed the transfer rumours.
“There are always rumours about me, of course. But I prefer to live in the moment. I am enjoying myself right now—both the club and my life here. The fans have also been incredibly supportive since the first day.
Now I will fight for the fifth star with my team, and a decision will be made at the end of the season about what will be best for everyone. Galatasaray will forever be in my heart.”
Transfer race heating up
Napoli are open to selling Osimhen at the end of the season, with a €75 million release clause in his contract. However, they are reportedly reluctant to offload him to another Serie A club, which complicates interest from Juventus.
Chelsea, who were unsuccessful in their attempt to sign the striker in January, are expected to return with another offer this summer. Manchester United are also monitoring the situation but may need to offload players before making a concrete move.
Arsenal previously considered Osimhen last summer, but his €130 million price tag at the time proved too steep. With a more accessible buyout clause now in play and Cole publicly backing the move, the Gunners may reignite their interest in one of Africa’s brightest footballing talents.
