Arsenal are likely to have a busy summer on the transfer front as Edu and Mikel Arteta look to apply the finishing touches to their squad.
The Gunners have improved massively since Arteta took the reins in 2019, but the Premier League title has sadly eluded them for the second season in a row.
Arsenal are currently without an out-and-out No. 9, and it can be argued that such a player could’ve made a difference in the title race.
The Gunners are now reportedly looking at signing a centre-forward, and have been linked with a player deemed “one of the top five strikers in the world”.
The player in question is Victor Osimhen, who has been a sensation at Napoli over the past few years.
However, a new report suggests that Arsenal are cooling their interest in the Nigeria international due to his hefty price tag.
According to Sky Sport Italia journalist Francesco Modugno, Napoli are struggling to find potential buyers for Osimhen.
“Today he has a €130million (£113million) clause that no club seems to be getting close to,” Modugno said, as per Calcio Napoli 24.
“The dynamics change, but not the club’s strategy. The Nigerian forward must fund almost the whole of Napoli’s summer business.
“PSG remains a possibility. Arsenal too, but not at certain figures. Saudi Arabia seems like a life choice for Osimhen.
“With that money, Napoli must finance a new centre-forward, and (Romelu) Lukaku’s profile is a guarantee for the manager.”
Arsenal hesitating over Victor Osimhen price tag
Osimhen has been a revelation for Napoli since his reported £70million move from Lille back in 2020.
This season, the 25-year-old signed a new contract at Napoli with a reported £113million release clause, but this hasn’t stopped speculation from doing the rounds.
Osimhen has clearly shown that he is “one of the best strikers in the world”, as Joao Cancelo said to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Il Napolista, earlier this year.
Likewise, Italian football journalist Mina Razouki told BBC Sport last year that Osimhen “has got to be one of the top five strikers in the world.”
However, you can understand why Arsenal are hesitating to do business at such a high valuation.
Let’s see what happens in the coming weeks and whether they can source a less expensive alternative.