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Arsenal's Victor Osimhen pursuit explained ahead of January transfer window

Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring for Galatasaray
-Credit:Muzahim Zahid Tuzun/Anadolu via Getty Images


Arsenal previously attempted to sign Victor Osimhen when Arsene Wenger was manager but advice from his brother convinced him to take a different path.

Napoli striker Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray for the season but a potentially hectic January transfer window could in store for the Nigerian. It is understood there is a release clause in the loan switch which allows ten unnamed clubs to sign Osimhen should they approach the Italian giants with a suitable deal.

The Naples club are thought to have reduced their asking price to around £62m which could entice the likes of Arsenal to bid for him in the upcoming transfer window. However, the Gunners may not have found themselves in this position if they had been able to snap up Osimhen back in 2015.

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Speaking previously with Complete Sports, Osimhen's brother Andrew explained how he had convinced his sibling to snub Arsenal in favour of a later move to Germany. "Back then in the year 2015, it was very challenging and like I said, there was a whole lot of inducements from these clubs but I made sure I never fell prey for them," he explained.

"You can’t just come and start giving me material things just like that, I need to ask you a few questions such as: ‘Why are you trying to give me this thing?’ Life in England is filled with luxury and flamboyance and Victor is someone I know very well as he is my younger brother, I needed him to be in a very cool atmosphere.

"I wanted him to be in a city where it would be from training to his house and vice-versa as I felt the luxurious and flamboyant lifestyle in England could make him lose focus. There were offers from Wolfsburg in Germany, Arsenal in England and Anderlecht in Belgium."

Victor Osimhen pictured in action for Wolfsburg in 2017
Striker Victor Osimhen pictured in action for Wolfsburg in 2017 -Credit:Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images

Eventually, a young Osimhen would sign for the German club Wolfsburg in January 2017. From there, he would move to R Charleroi SC in Belgium before getting his big break at Lille in 2019.

After just one season, Napoli saw enough to invest in the 25-year-old who has now scored double figures consistently. So far this campaign, he has bagged 12 goals in 15 appearances for Galatasaray.