Why Signing Victor Osimhen Should Be a No-Brainer for Arsenal or Man Utd

Premier League dream within reach as €75m release clause nears expiry

It feels odd, doesn’t it? A player like Victor Osimhen, one of the most prolific strikers in European football over the past few seasons, entering the summer window with barely a whisper from the Premier League’s biggest clubs. Arsenal and Manchester United, both in the market for firepower, are seemingly looking elsewhere while a golden opportunity quietly inches toward the edge of their radar.

Yet here we are, days away from the expiration of Osimhen’s €75 million release clause, and no concrete move from either of the Premier League giants. This might be a decision both clubs will come to regret.

Arsenal and Man Utd’s search for firepower

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are close to something special. They’ve been title contenders in back-to-back seasons and pushed deep into Europe. But when you look at the margins that separate success from heartbreak, it often comes down to one thing: goals. And not just any goals, but the ones that arrive in ugly, gritty games where creativity dries up. Osimhen scores those goals.

At the other end of the table, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are navigating a rebuild of epic proportions after finishing 15th in the league—their lowest ever in the Premier League era. Rasmus Højlund has promise, but his inconsistency and injuries last season exposed the need for a guaranteed, fit, proven centre-forward. Osimhen, who netted 26 goals for Napoli in their Scudetto-winning campaign and repeated the feat on loan in Turkey last season, would be a transformative signing.

Osimhen’s Premier League dream

Victor Osimhen wants the Premier League

It’s no secret: Victor Osimhen wants the Premier League. He’s said it himself. “I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day,” he admitted last year. That dream is within touching distance, especially now that he has turned down a permanent stay at Galatasaray and already snubbed the lucrative temptation of a move to Al-Hilal.

The fact he’s willing to pass up financial windfalls to chase his Premier League ambition should have top clubs clambering to sign him. Instead, both Arsenal and United seem tangled in slower negotiations for the likes of Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško, players who might cost more and bring more question marks in terms of league adaptation.

The price is right

At £65 million, Osimhen’s release clause is, by modern standards, a relative bargain. Especially when you consider that it’s lower than the fees being quoted for both Gyökeres and Šeško. And unlike those two, Osimhen has scored goals at the highest level—in Serie A, in the Champions League, and recently, in Turkey.

His wage demands, believed to be around £200,000-per-week, are significant. But neither Arsenal nor United would be stretching their wage structure to the breaking point. In fact, he’d likely slot in below some of their current top earners.

Financial caution vs. title ambition

Both clubs must navigate FFP and PSR regulations, and that’s no doubt a factor in the muted interest. Clubs can’t throw money around the way they used to. But that’s precisely why this opportunity should be taken now. When a proven goalscorer is available for a set fee—without the uncertainty of drawn-out negotiations or escalation—you pounce.

Arsenal, in particular, could benefit hugely. They dropped more points to draws (14) than any other top-six club last season. Add Osimhen’s cutting edge to their forward line and suddenly those frustrating draws against low blocks become narrow wins. That’s the difference between second place and silverware.

A lifeline for Man Utd

Victor Osimhen Viktor Gyokeres 2024-25

For United, it could be a statement. A turning point. A new era. They’ve already cleared out several overpaid fringe players. And while they’ll need to be clever in structuring the deal, Osimhen represents the sort of bold rebuild Ten Hag and INEOS want to oversee.

Luring him without European football will be tough, but United can still offer him the chance to be the main man at one of the biggest clubs in world football. Old Trafford still has its pull. For a player with dreams of England, it’s not hard to imagine the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ becoming his preferred destination.

Timing is everything

Here’s the kicker: Osimhen’s release clause expires on July 15. After that, Napoli will be free to demand whatever they like. That could mean a higher fee, drawn-out negotiations, and the risk of other clubs swooping in. If Arsenal or United want to get ahead of the game, the time is now.

It’s rare in modern football that a top-tier striker is available for a fixed, affordable price, is actively pushing for a Premier League move, and isn’t already wrapped up in a bidding war. This is that moment.

Final word

Fenerbahce-v-Galatasaray-Turkish-Cup-QF

In an age of scouting algorithms, youth-first models, and long-term planning, it’s easy to forget the power of the obvious. Victor Osimhen to Arsenal or Man Utd just makes sense. He’s at the right age, has the right pedigree, wants the move, and brings the type of consistent finishing that changes seasons.

So why the hesitation?

If either of these English giants are serious about progressing next season, the decision is clear: break the bank, make Osimhen’s Premier League dream come true—and in the process, maybe make one of their own a reality too.