By Wale Mustapha
Former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole has thrown his support behind a potential move by Arsenal for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, describing him as a “perfect fit” for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has rediscovered top form in Turkey, netting 29 goals and providing five assists in 33 appearances under manager Okan Buruk.
His prolific spell has reignited interest from top European clubs, with speculation mounting over a big move this summer.
The 26-year-old forward was previously linked with Arsenal, but a deal failed to materialize due to Napoli’s hefty release clause.
However, with his loan stint nearing its conclusion, Osimhen is widely expected to be on the move again.
Speaking on the Dressing Room Podcast, Cole urged the Gunners to go all out for the Super Eagles star.
“Osimhen, I know he’s had this little strange one where he’s gone to Turkey, and he’s banging in goals, but he looks perfect for Arsenal for me,” Cole said, as quoted by Standard UK.
“Isak? Yeah, but why would he go to Arsenal now? If Newcastle could spend more, I can’t see Isak being an option. Osimhen is the one for me for Arsenal.”
Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a top striker as they look to bolster their squad for next season’s title challenge, and Osimhen’s profile fits the bill as a proven goalscorer with Premier League-ready attributes.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
