Arsenal have upped the ante in their hunt for a striker this summer by contacting the representatives of Victor Osimhen, according to one reporter.
Mikel Arteta allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave in January. And now both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are out of contract in June. Nketiah looks likely to leave on a free transfer, while contract talks at the end of the season with Lacazette could see the 30-year-old stay on.
But regardless of that, Arteta and Edu are hunting for a new No 9 and Osimhen is on their radar.
Earlier this month Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, deemed Arsenal to be “in the lead” for the Napoli marksman.
Now journalist Freddie Paxton claims Arsenal have made contact with Osimhen’s entourage and sounded him out for a summer transfer.
The major stumbling block though is the price tag on the Nigeria international.
His value in Naples is in excess of £100m and Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis will demand every penny of that valuation.
Paxton states that Osimhen is “more interested” in Arsenal than a move to Newcastle.
The Geordies were rumoured to be interested in January before the purchase of Chris Wood, while Man Utd have also been linked.
But the money that Napoli have in mind could well rule plenty of suitors, including Arsenal out of the running. Sources have already told TEAMtalk that any transfer would prove “difficult” even at nine figures.
I’m told Arsenal have been in contact with the agent of Victor Osimhen. The feeling is that the interest is serious, but Napoli will expect €100m+ this summer. Player wants to play in England and has previously been contacted by Newcastle. He is more interested in Arsenal.#AFC
— Freddie Paxton (@Freddie_Paxton) April 25, 2022
The striker’s agent Roberto Calenda has scoffed at transfer talk previously and stated how Napoli is a great place for the striker to develop.
Osimhen ‘wants to play in England’
So much could come down to…
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