Arsenal pull out of race to sign Victor Osimhen

Arsenal will not pursue Victor Osimhen, a target for Chelsea and Real Madrid, with the 24-year-old Napoli striker costing €130-140 million.

According to a report by Football Transfers, Victor Osimhen is no longer the subject of interest from Arsenal. Chelsea and Real Madrid remain keen on signing the Napoli striker, valued at €130-140 million. But the Gunners have pulled out of the race to sign the 24-year-old in-demand attacker.

The Rise of Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world since joining Napoli from LOSC Lille. The Partenopei had shelled out €75 million to secure his services in September 2020. And the Nigerian international has justified the heavy investment by delivering the Serie A title at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Controversy has struck this season, with distasteful posts by Napoli rubbing him the wrong way. But the 24-year-old and the Serie A champions have mended the fences, as he signed a new deal with the club this week. Meanwhile, Osimhen’s performance levels have dropped slightly this term, as he has only eight goals and three assists in 18 appearances thus far.

But Osimhen’s stock remains high, with the former Lille striker being arguably the most highly sought-after attacker in the market. Recent reports have linked him with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid. But the Gunners have withdrawn their interest in the Napoli talisman, as they do not want to meet his release clause.

Arsenal Out of the Chase: Where Will Osimhen Land?

Osimhen will cost around €130-140 million after signing his new contract with Napoli. But Arsenal will not cough up such a sum, even though recent reports claimed they had set aside a sizable amount to land him. The news has come as a boost for Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Osimhen is reportedly Chelsea’s top target for next year. The Blues have struggled to consistently score goals, bringing the Napoli striker into the picture. As for Real Madrid, the insistence to not replace Karim Benzema this past summer means they will enter the market for a striker next summer. The Nigerian international is thus a viable target for Los Blancos.

With Arsenal pulling out of the race to sign Osimhen, Chelsea and Real Madrid should become the front-runners to secure his signature. It will be interesting to see where the €130-140 million-rated striker lands next year.