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Berta was in attendance for the recent derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, where Spanish outlet AS indicate preliminary talks were held with intermediaries to discuss the feasibility of a transfer.
The pursuit represents a continuance in Arsenal’s recruitment plans as they, for a second summer running, appear to be prioritising a marquee No. 9 ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Unlike previous windows where Osimhen’s status has been complicated by loan agreements, the striker is now a permanent Galatasaray player, having completed a reported €75m move from Napoli last year.
Arsenal transfer chief 'initiates contact' over Osimhen move
Any deal would now require a direct club-to-club negotiation with the Turkish giants, who are expected to demand a premium for their most prolific asset. There is no indication at this stage that any official approach has been made.
Osimhen would likely represent a total financial commitment of approximately £200 million over a standard five-year contract, assuming Arsenal stepped up their reported interest.
Galatasaray would likely hold out for a transfer fee in the region of £100 million, which would make him one of the Gunners' most expensive signings. However, the main complexity lies in the wage structure.
Osimhen currently earns a staggering €21 million (£17.5m) per year in Istanbul, according to ESPN. For Arsenal to successfully lure him to North London, they would need to facilitate a weekly wage of roughly £300,000, before loyalty bonuses and image rights.
The pursuit of Osimhen raises immediate questions regarding the future of Viktor Gyokeres. Since joining the Gunners last summer, the Swedish international has not exactly been an unmitigated success, although he has found the net 18 times in his debut campaign.
A move for Osimhen would likely signal a departure for Gyokeres, or may indicate that Mikel Arteta is seeking to provide elite-level rotation to sustain title challenges on multiple fronts. However, balancing the minutes of Osimhen and Gyokeres could prove especially tricky.
It does suggest, though, that Gabriel Jesus will be moved on this summer. The 29-year-old has appeared 24 times this season, predominantly from the bench, scoring five times across all competitions.
Can Arsenal afford Osimhen?
Arsenal’s most recently published financial accounts show the club is in a strong economic position. Revenue has surpassed £690 million, driven by deep Champions League runs and record-breaking commercial partnerships. Meanwhile, their expenditure on wages represents approximately 50 per cent of their total revenue, which is much healthier than other top clubs.
The Premier League is transitioning to the 'Squad Cost Ratio' (SCR) as its primary financial regulatory tool at the start of next season, moving away from the old Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) which focused on a limit of £105m in losses over three years.
SCR is designed to mirror UEFA's financial regulations, shifting the focus from total losses to spending power relative to revenue, which means Arsenal are already in a good position to continue recruiting aggressively as they have done in recent windows.
SCR uses a tiered system to maintain a level playing field while acknowledging the extra revenue and costs associated with European football, so for a club like Arsenal who are in Europe regularly, wages, amortisation and agent fees must not exceed 70 per cent of the club's revenue.
Arsenal can, in theory, afford the move, however, the addition of a £300k-a-week wage packet requires careful navigation. To maintain a safe buffer, Arsenal would likely need to sanction £40m-£50m in fringe player sales this summer.
If Berta can navigate these financial hurdles, the sporting director's initial trip to Istanbul may well prove to be a sliding doors moment for the Gunners.
