Arsenal have landed a big boost in manager Mikel Arteta’s search for a new striker as a European coach has now admitted there are ‘agreements’ for his star player to leave.
The Gunners are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer as Arteta looks to land further firepower. While Arsenal finished the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a club-record 91 goals, they could rarely rely on recognised No9s Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.
Nketiah and Jesus both featured 27 times last term but only offered five and four goals each. Even defenders Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes both matched the latter’s total, while the former failed to score beyond October. Just three players would also register double figures.
Antonio Conte admits he is powerless to stop Napoli selling Arsenal target Victor Osimhen
So, Arteta has turned to the transfer market and Arsenal hold an interest in Victor Osimhen’s transfer from SSC Napoli. Reports by Il Roma note the Gunners have even overtaken Chelsea in the mix. Edu has stolen a march after Arsenal spoke to Osimhen’s agent about his transfer.
But Valter De Maggio also suggests that a difference in valuation could complicate any effort Edu makes. Arsenal value Osimhen at just €75m (£63.5m), while Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis wants the €120m (£101.5m) release clause they agreed last December paid in full.
READ MORE: Arsenal 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits and releases
New Napoli coach Antonio Conte has even now suggested that further agreements between Osimhen and De Laurentiis leave him powerless to prevent the 25-year-old’s transfer. He can veto several players leaving the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this year but not Osimhen.
Conte said, via quotes by the Mirror: “As far as Osimhen is concerned, just as I knew very well about the situations of Kvara [Khvicha Kvaratskhelia], [Giovanni] Di Lorenzo, [Andre-Frank Zambo] Anguissa [and Stanislav] Lobotka, on which I have placed an absolute veto.
“Having said that, I know what the situation is regarding Osimhen. I know that there are agreements [and] that it is a situation different from all the others. I can only assist.
“He is a player of the highest level, exceptional. But I cannot enter into any discussion because it is part of previous agreements which have been clearly stated to me.”
Victor Osimhen can be the out-and-out centre-forward Mikel Arteta craves
Conte admitting that he is powerless to prevent Napoli from selling Osimhen should serve as a welcome boost for Arsenal. It even follows reports by Calciomercato that the Azzurri might reduce their asking price for Osimhen to €100m (£85m) as Napoli have not received an offer.
De Laurentiis accepting Napoli cannot hold out for Osimhen’s full release clause and Conte’s admission could now tempt Arsenal to submit an offer. He could offer Arteta the prolific out-and-out striker the Spaniard seeks. Osimhen had 15 goals in 25 Serie A games last season.
The Nigerian also fired the Azzurri to the Scudetto in 2022/23 with 26 goals in 32 games. He even scored two of those with his left foot, seven with his head and 14 with his right foot in open play. Osimhen scored five headers and six with his right foot in open play in 2023/24.