Arsenal are reportedly set to rival Chelsea for the signing of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen when the transfer market reopens in the summer.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal and Chelsea could go head-to-head for the signing of Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window.
Osimhen is one of the most exciting strikers in Europe. The 25-year-old Nigerian international scored 26 league goals last season to fire Napoli to the Serie A title. He’s enjoying another prolific campaign this time around, finding the net seven times in 13 league outings.
It has been suggested that Osimhen has decided to leave the reigning Serie A champions. Late last month, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that it’s been the Italian side’s plan to cash in on their star striker at the end of the season all along.
Osimhen signed a new deal in December that would take him through 2026, but it was sealed in order to get a premium fee to help finance a much-required reconstruction.
The Mirror add that Osimhen has a newly-inserted release clause in his contract with Napoli, which is said to be worth between £100 million and £110 million.
As such, the 25-year-old striker has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League for a while now. Chelsea, for one, wanted to sign Osimhen last summer, but Gli Azzurri were determined to hold onto their talisman, so Nicolas Jackson was signed from Villarreal instead.
It’s understood that the West Londoners’ viewed the Nigeria international as somebody who could have transformed the club’s misfortunes in front of goal, but, without Champions League football, any bid to sign him proved difficult.
Chelsea remain some way off Champions League sports this season, but they’re still interested in signing Osimhen. While the Blues have long admired the Nigerian, who remains their top target for the summer, they expect to encounter stiff competition for his services.
Arsenal are also interested in the Lagos-born striker, having previously met with his representatives back in 2022. The report mentions that no decision has been made by the Gunners on their primary striker target, with Ivan Toney said to be on Mikel Arteta’s radar too.
The Gunners’ have built a title-challenging squad after consistently adding quality in the transfer window as they continue to dream of lifting their first Premier League trophy in two decades, and they will have the chance to bring in reinforcements this summer.
Arsenal’s biggest problem this season is goals. Although they’ve scored 45 in the Premier League, only four of those have been hit by Gabriel Jesus. Their other centre-forward, Eddie Nketiah, is also struggling to find the net, with just five league goals to his name.
Osimhen is deemed one of the best strikers in the world, so he would be a marquee capture for Arsenal if they land him. Therefore, should they miss out on signing him to Chelsea, then it will be a big blow for Mikel Arteta’s side.
