Osimhen emerges as Barcelona’s latest attacking option amid transfer uncertainty

FC Barcelona have renewed their interest in Victor Osimhen as they search for a new striker before the transfer window closes, with their plans affected by Inter Milan’s refusal to sell captain Lautaro Martinez.

The Catalan club are considering several ways to strengthen their attack, but their pursuit of Julian Alvarez has currently reached an impasse. With that move stalled, sporting director Deco has reactivated the possibility of signing Osimhen, according to TeamTalk.

The Nigeria international was already on Barcelona’s list during the summer as an alternative option. He is now being viewed as a realistic target while the club attempts to resolve its shortage of attacking options.

Osimhen, 27, is regarded as a more accessible alternative to Alvarez. Barcelona’s sporting department is continuing to work on several cases at the same time as it seeks to complete the signing of a centre-forward before the deadline.

However, Barcelona are not alone in their interest. Arsenal are also closely monitoring Osimhen’s situation and are currently considered to be in the strongest position to sign him.

The striker, who was born in Lagos, is under contract until the summer of 2029 and is valued at 75m euros. Osimhen earns 18,750,000 euros per year in Turkey, equivalent to 12,187,500,000 CFA francs.

His future remains a prominent issue as Galatasaray prepare to play Goztepe in the third round of the Turkish league. Osimhen’s position at Galatasaray is central to the transfer speculation surrounding him, with clubs assessing whether an agreement can be reached before the market shuts.

Barcelona’s interest has been revived because the club must adjust its priorities after Inter Milan categorically rejected the prospect of allowing Martinez to leave. The Argentine forward had been among the attacking options considered by the Spanish side, but Inter’s stance has forced Barcelona to examine other solutions.

The situation involving Alvarez has also contributed to the renewed focus on Osimhen. With that avenue currently blocked, the Nigeria striker offers Barcelona another route to strengthen their forward line, although Arsenal’s interest could make negotiations more difficult.

For now, Barcelona, Arsenal and Galatasaray are all connected to the uncertainty surrounding Osimhen’s next move. The player’s contract length and valuation mean any deal would represent a significant financial commitment, while Barcelona must also act quickly if they are to secure a striker before the transfer deadline.

Ahead of Galatasaray’s fixture with Goztepe, betting company 1xbet lists Galatasaray as the clear favourite at 1.27. A draw is priced at 4.75, while a Goztepe victory is listed at 8.50.