Arsenal may have to pay as much as €100m (£84m) if they want to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer, according to journalist Freddie Paxton.
The reporter says that the Nigerian international is interested in playing in the Premier League and would be more open to a switch to the Gunners than Newcastle:
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
Despite Osimhen seemingly being keen on a switch to the Emirates, fans on Twitter are hung up on the forward’s potential asking price:
With that price its a No No
— Oluwatosin (@quadri_tosi) April 25, 2022
€100M? What are they sniffing?
€60M would be a correct price so give them €40 + Pepe.— Foxey (@foxseabirds) April 25, 2022
Nice but for €100m, NO thank you. He is not even the top scorer in serie A right now. He aint worth anything over €50m. €60m max
— J’Ovie (@KingEmma87) April 25, 2022
for 100m it's too risky, just focus on gabriel jesus and CM first. if we get them, then look for players available in the transfer market who can strengthen the squad at a reasonable price
— DingDong90's (@LiniMasaAgung) April 25, 2022
At €100m, the price tag is too much for a player that is doing less than 20 goals a season. He is not proven, still a work in progress.
— Just Appeal (@Appeal_Charles) April 26, 2022
€100m+ … Tammy Abraham would literally be half the price and a much superior fit.
— . (@aescfos) April 25, 2022
Give them Pepe as part of the deal
— ÖrƎ (@Iron_OreA1) April 25, 2022
There may be 3-5 players ON EARTH worth €100m+, and he’s not one of them!
— I like sports… (@Texas46590945) April 26, 2022
It’s very unlikely that Napoli will lower their demands for Osimhen. The Serie A club’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis is notorious for his hard-line stance, having rejected sizeable bids for his players in the past.
You also have to consider the fact that the Italian side paid €80m (including add-ons) for the 23-year-old in the first place, so they are not going to accept taking a loss on the player. It’s likely that Arsenal will move on to other targets instead.