Victor Osimhen will most likely end up at Arsenal, with Italian journalist Ciro Venerato reporting that the Premier League giants are ready to make a €100 million bid for the Nigerian striker, which is €30 million short of the release clause set by Napoli in his recent contract.
Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has made it clear that they will not entertain bids below his release clause, which would surpass Arsenal’s current transfer record of £105 million paid for Declan Rice last summer.
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However, Arsenal hope to strike a deal for a more modest sum, around €100m or £85m. “[Arsenal] will now try with the Nigerian [who dreams of the Premier League], but not by paying the onerous amount of the clause, but a lower sum,” continued Venerato. “Napoli will have to evaluate the pros and cons.”
Arsenal’s initial target, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, has committed his future to Leipzig for another year, pushing them to explore other options over the need to secure the necessary firepower to challenge Manchester City and end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.
In the wake of Sesko’s decision, Arsenal’s attention has also turned to Girona’s Artem Dovbyk, the top scorer in La Liga last season with 24 goals. However, whispers from Italy suggest that a more high-profile signing is in the works—enter Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen, who has openly expressed his desire for a new challenge, dreams of playing in the Premier League. His impressive track record, including 26 league goals in the 2022–23 season that propelled Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, makes him an enticing prospect for Arsenal.
The Gunners are not alone in their admiration; Chelsea and PSG have also shown interest, especially with PSG needing to replace Kylian Mbappe, who has joined Real Madrid.
At 25, Osimhen is entering his prime and has proven his ability to lead a team to glory. His addition could be the catalyst Arsenal needs to topple Manchester City and bring the Premier League trophy back to North London.
Yet, there are risks involved. The financial outlay is enormous, and if the deal falls through or if Osimhen fails to adapt to the Premier League, Arsenal could find themselves in a precarious position. Additionally, with other clubs like Chelsea and PSG in the mix, Arsenal must act swiftly and decisively.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
