June 8th 2024.
The transfer market is always buzzing with rumors and speculations, especially when it comes to top football clubs like Arsenal. One of the latest names to catch the attention of the Gunners is Victor Osimhen, the talented Nigerian striker who currently plays for Napoli. However, it seems that Arsenal's admiration for Osimhen might not lead to a deal, as the club is hesitant to meet Napoli's asking price.
According to reports, Arsenal have made it clear to Napoli that they are not willing to meet Osimhen's €130 million release clause. This decision comes as Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, is determined to strengthen his squad with a new striker after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title this season. Among the top candidates on Arsenal's shortlist is RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, who has scored an impressive 14 goals in the Bundesliga this season and is available for a more reasonable fee of €65 million.
Despite holding Osimhen in high regard, Arsenal seems to have reservations about the high costs involved in the potential deal. It's no secret that Napoli has been open to selling the 25-year-old striker for a while now, but their president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is holding out for a club to trigger Osimhen's €130 million release clause. So far, no concrete proposals have been made, and although some Saudi Pro League clubs could afford the high fee, Osimhen is reportedly keen on remaining in Europe.
In light of this, Napoli might consider lowering Osimhen's asking price, especially since they need the transfer fee to fund their own signings this summer. The Serie A club is especially eager to reunite their new head coach, Antonio Conte, with Romelu Lukaku, who is returning to Chelsea after a successful loan spell at Roma. However, Chelsea has made it clear that they will only let Lukaku go if his £38 million release clause is met. And, according to sources, Napoli might need to sell Osimhen before they can even think about making a move for the Belgian striker.
Interestingly, Chelsea themselves have shown interest in Osimhen in the past, but they have now ruled themselves out of the race to sign him this summer. The main reasons for this decision seem to be Osimhen's high transfer fee and concerns over his injury record. As for Arsenal, they continue to monitor the situation closely, and while they might be admirers of Osimhen, they are not willing to break the bank for him. Only time will tell if this will change, but for now, Arsenal fans will have to keep their hopes up and wait for any updates on the club's pursuit of a new striker.
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