Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta made a high-profile appearance in Istanbul on April 26, 2026. He watched Galatasaray defeat rivals Fenerbahce 3-0 in a fierce derby. The main goal? Scouting Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker, and reportedly two other Galatasaray players. This trip signals growing interest in Osimhen for a summer 2026 transfer, as reported by turkish-football.com.
Berta was even pictured with Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek. They held initial talks about Osimhen’s transfer. No official bid has come yet, but the discussions happened. Osimhen opened the scoring in the 40th minute. He now has 20 goals and 7 assists in 31 appearances this season, according to Legit.ng.
Berta’s Istanbul Mission
The derby at RAMS Park was a big one. Osimhen showed up, scoring that first goal. Baris Alper Yilmaz and Lucas Torreira also netted for Okan Buruk’s side. This win secured bragging rights for Galatasaray.
But Berta wasn’t just there for the match. His mission was gathering intelligence. He wanted to know about Osimhen’s contract, which runs until 2029. And he needed info on his standing with fans. Osimhen moved to Galatasaray for €75 million from Napoli. He’s a big deal there. Arsenal wants an elite No. 9 upgrade. Mikel Arteta likes Osimhen’s physicality. He could give Arsenal a “different dimension” for title dominance.
Spanish outlet *AS*, through secondary reports, mentioned two other players were on Berta’s radar. They were targets of “differing profiles.” These players could address other squad needs for Arsenal. Their names aren’t out there. But it makes sense they’d be Galatasaray standouts from the derby, like Yilmaz or Torreira.
Osimhen’s Price Tag and Arsenal’s Ambition
Galatasaray values Osimhen at around €120 million. Some reports put the fee between £100-200 million. That’s a lot of money. It rivals what Arsenal paid for Declan Rice. His wages are also high, estimated at €21 million annually, or £300,000 weekly, FourFourTwo reports. These figures present a challenge for any club.
Arsenal is leading the 2025/26 Premier League. They spent a lot last summer, around £170 million, on attacking players, including Viktor Gyokeres. So, they’ve been busy. But the club still seems to think Osimhen is worth the outlay. Financial maneuvering would be key, even if reports suggest Arsenal can afford it.
Osimhen himself is 27. He won the 2023 CAF Player of the Year. His form is excellent: 20 goals and 7 assists in 31 games. He’s a proven goalscorer. And Arsenal keeps pushing for top attackers. That’s part of their strategy, to dominate.
The Road Ahead for Arsenal Transfers
There are no Tier 1 or Tier 2 sources confirming Berta’s trip. No club statements from Arsenal or Galatasaray. Arteta hasn’t mentioned it either. This is typical for early transfer rumors. But the photos of Berta and Özbek give the story weight. Sportsmole.co.uk detailed Berta’s multi-target scouting efforts.
The main hurdles are the massive transfer fee and Osimhen’s wages. His long contract also gives Galatasaray leverage. They won’t let him go cheap. No official bid has been made, only preliminary talks. So there’s still a long way to go. Arsenal has to decide if this investment is the right one, especially after their heavy spending last year.
We’ll have to watch for more solid confirmation. Tier 1 or Tier 2 reports will be the real indicator. The story has traction now, but it needs an official nod to escalate. For now, it’s just a strong signal of intent from Arsenal.
