Arsenal are involved in the race to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to LondonWorld and GoonerNews reporter Chris Wheatley.
Speaking on Shots!TV, Wheatley confirmed that the Gunners are actively pursuing the Nigerian international but they will have to beat Chelsea if they want to secure the player’s services:
“Arsenal are one of the clubs who want to sign Victor Osimhen. That’s what we understand. Chelsea, of course, are going to rival for the signature. They’re more hopeful of doing a deal in January. They really do want to get that deal over the line.”
“There’s a positivity from the Chelsea camp because, of course, they have a link with Napoli and they have a link with Osimhen. Kalidou Koulibaly, of course, is a former Napoli player, who’s very close with Victor Osimhen. There’s a hope there that they could potentially do a deal.”
Osimhen’s goal record makes him an attractive target for Arsenal
Wheatley claims that Mikel Arteta’s side are keen to find an upgrade for Gabriel Jesus. They want a proven forward who can come in and score the goals required right from the off:
“Arsenal are desperate to sign a world-class striker. They want to sign someone who guarantees them 20, 30-plus goals a season. Victor Osimhen, he’s done that. He’s proven in Serie A. Last season, he scored in excess of 30 goals. This season, he’s scored 6 goals in 9 appearances in the Italian top flight.
“He’s a fantastic player. He’s someone that a lot of clubs want to sign. It’s my understanding that Arsenal and Chelsea both really want to sign him. Where’s he going to go? Well, that’s up to Victor Osimhen.”
There are questions over whether the Gunners can afford Osimhen
The biggest stumbling block is likely to be the Nigerian’s asking price. Wheatley says that the player will likely break Arsenal’s transfer record, and maybe even the British record:
“People have been saying €150m, could be a little bit lower, but they have to deal with the Napoli president [Aurelio] De Laurentiis, who is of course a stickler for a good negotiation, for a good deal. I think it will be a tough one to negotiate.”
You do feel that, if Arsenal are to sign Osimhen, it will be in the summer, rather than in January. It will give the Gunners more room to manoeuvre, both in terms of Financial Fair Play as well raising more funds through player sales. From the looks of things, though, the London club are serious about bringing the striker to the Emirates.
