Arsenal will make contact with SSC Napoli in the coming days to discuss the transfer of Victor Osimhen but a decision the Gunners have now made may scupper a move.
The north London club are eager to explore a deal for the 25-year-old as Mikel Arteta is keen to reinforce his attack. Arteta believes Arsenal ought to sign an out-and-out striker in the off-season after preferring to rely on Kai Havertz over Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus last term.
Nketiah largely stood in for Jesus during the first half of the season when Arteta was without the latter. Yet the 25-year-old only scored five goals in 27 Premier League games and did not fire in his 17 outings after October. Jesus also scored just four goals in his 27 appearances.
Arsenal only value Victor Osimhen’s transfer at 62.5% of Napoli’s asking price
Napoli star Osimhen is one striker Arsenal admire as sporting director Edu bids to gift Arteta his new forward. The 25-year-old scored 15 goals through his 25 appearances in Serie A last season. He also hit two in six Champions League games including one against FC Barcelona.
But Italian journalist Valter De Maggio claims that Arsenal have made an important decision that could hinder any swoop for Osimhen’s transfer. Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis is set on receiving the Nigerian’s full €120m (£101.5m) release clause but Edu is loath to pay it.
Arsenal only believe Osimhen is worth €75m (£63.5m) and are reluctant to rise to the fee De Laurentiis demands. The Gunners’ stance could prove very problematic after Napoli received a huge offer from Saudi Arabia. Osimhen, though, does not want to move to the Pro League.
Arsenal have approached Victor Osimhen’s agent to discuss a transfer
Reports by Il Roma have also noted that Arsenal have spoken with Osimhen’s agent about a transfer. The Gunners sought to register their interest and placed the club ahead of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in the tug-of-war that also features Saudi sides, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Osimhen is also holding out for a move to the Premier League but no English team has made Napoli an offer yet. One may be forthcoming, however, as Ciro Venerato reports that Arsenal will approach Napoli in the coming days about Osimhen after failing to sign Benjamin Sesko.
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But Arsenal’s stance on Osimhen’s value might prove very prohibitive given Napoli’s asking price for any transfer. De Laurentis is unlikely to accept 62.5% of the striker’s release clause given the pair only agreed on the sum when Osimhen signed a new contract last December.
The contract tied the Lagos native down at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona through to June 2026, as well. So, Edu and Arteta could have to re-think how much they value Osimhen if Arsenal are to secure his transfer from Napoli before the 2024/25 Premier League season.