Why Victor Osimhen isn’t actually Arsenal’s “dream target” this summer

Arsenal have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a surprise move for Jarell Quansah, England international and formerly of Liverpool.

Fans are clamouring for offensive additions to ensure Mikel Arteta‘s side have a strong chance of defending their hard-won Premier League title, while pursuing other silver-laden ventures across the campaign, but strong defensive principles form the bedrock of this system, hardened over the years.

Quansah is an option, with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa also coveted. However, the Gunners must ensure they do not turn too far away from

the search for an edge in the final third that could have been provided by Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid extraordinaire who, this summer, entertained the possibility of leaving Los Blancos and joining the Londoners.

Technical director Andrea Berta has been forced to pivot, and recent rumours suggest Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen is on the list.

Why Arsenal are interested in signing Osimhen

Osimhen is one of the finest strikers out there, and in a different timeline, could be playing up front for Chelsea right now. However, that move from Napoli caved in a few years ago, and he wound up in Turkey with Galatasaray, where he has torn defences to shreds for the past two terms.

The Nigeria international, 27, is a natural-born goalscorer, but he’s also a sharp and smart attacker, shrewd in his interplay and precise with his movement. In that, he would prove an instant upgrade on Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 21 times across his debut campaign as a Gunner, but left a lot to be desired.

Arsenal are ramping up their long-standing interest as the summer window enters the later stages. Arteta and co believe a deal could be struck for around £60m, though Gala are bound to push for more.

It’s crucial that the Premier League champions welcome an elite forward to their ranks before the end of summer, and if not Osimhen, then Arsenal could turn to a star who has actually been said to be their dream target.

Arsenal in talks to sign their “dream target”

Arsenal have already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer for £35m. The left side of Arteta’s frontline is stocked, though there is certainly more that could be done to strengthen up top.

Osimhen would be a first-class signing, but Julian Alvarez could be an even bigger coup, with TEAMtalk revealing that the Argentina forward is determined to leave Atletico Madrid amid interest from the Gunners and Barcelona.

Arsenal chief Andrea Berta is maintaining a dialogue with the powers that be in the Spanish capital, and though it feels like Barca are the favourites to get a deal done after seeing an initial £86m offer knocked back, Alvarez is “the dream target for Mikel Arteta“, according to the inimitable David Ornstein.

There’s no question that Osimhen would be a top signing for a side such as Arsenal, but Alvarez could indeed be cut from finer cloth, struggling to produce clinical results for Atletico last season, but impressing through his underlying numbers.

The 26-year-old Alvarez plays with an element of flair and panache that feels very Arsenal-coded. He is capable of moments of magic, and he has also grown into his skin as a prolific attacking outlet in the Spanish capital, having played a sort of auxiliary role when with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

In La Liga last season, he ranked among the top 6% of positional peers for chances created and pass completion, and the top 5% for successful crosses per 90. His technicality is a thing to behold, and he would dynamise and expand the scope of Arteta’s frontline.

Could Osimhen enjoy the same emphatic effect? Would he prove a significant upgrade on Gyokeres? He averaged nine passes per game in the Super Lig last year, scoring 15 goals across 22 appearances, but also missing 23 big chances.

Reuters/Vincent Carchietta

Alvarez has only missed 16 big chances across two terms in La Liga, and during that time, he has bagged 25 goals, emphasising a cutting edge that Arsenal lacked last term.

This is a critical point for the Gunners, who are at the top, but must effectively strengthen this summer to ensure they remain in this position of power.

Alvarez would be a game-changing addition in that regard. There is a reason he is Arteta’s ‘dream target’, after all.