Victor Osimhen expected to leave this summer, Liverpool and Arsenal remain keen on Lille star
Liverpool and Arsenal have been handed a potential transfer boost, with Lille coach, Christophe Galtier, admitting that he expects the club to lose Victor Osimhen this summer.
(Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
The young striker has been in blistering form for the Ligue 1 outfit this term, leading to admiring glances from a number of clubs around Europe.
Two of those clubs are here in England, with Liverpool and Arsenal both linked. The Express claimed Liverpool had already opened talks with Osimhen in April, while the Sun claimed Arsenal and Napoli were battling for him just last month.
And speaking to Goal, Lille boss Galtier has now opened the door completely for Osimhen to potentially seal a move to the Premier League.
“I can confirm that both Gabriel and Victor are likely to depart. I’ve expected it for a long time.
They are working very seriously and we’re working currently with the players who are currently here who are likely to replace them and obviously on future players who will come to us to replace them in their posts.”
Osimhen, who has 18 goals in all competitions this season, is known for his speed and finishing at the top end of the field.
Victor Osimhen is wanted by Liverpool and Arsenal but Lille could demand a huge sum. (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Both the Reds and the Gunners could do with another forward. Arsenal, in particular, could be in the market if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang does indeed leave the club.
A quality player, but there’s a catch – TBR View
And that catch comes in the form of the transfer fee Lille want for their man. That same report from Goal mentions Lille President, Gerard Lopez, as talking about the fee they got from Arsenal for Niclas Pepe last year.
That, of course, was in excess of the £70m mark, with Lopez claiming it will take a similar fee to land Osmihen.
Those numbers may pose a problem for both Liverpool and Arsenal. The Reds have only just turned their back on a deal for Timo Werner. Arsenal, meanwhile, are struggling to come up with the money for some of their own players as it is.
Osimhen is a talent, there’s no doubt. But whether anyone can afford him, is another matter entirely.
