Charles Watts has indicated that a move for Victor Osimhen remains on the agenda for Arsenal.
Arsenal are certainly in the market for a new striker. Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium. Ivan Toney is also rumoured to be on Mikel Arteta’s shopping list, whilst Evan Ferguson is said to be a target for the Gunners, too.
Of those three mooted options, Osimhen is certainly the biggest name, and the most proven at the highest level. The 24-year-old was in scintillating form last season, bagging 31 goals across all competitions as he fired Napoli to a Serie A title triumph.
He has picked up where he left off in the current campaign, too. So far this season, the Nigerian marksman has netted six times and laid on three assists in just eleven outings.
Whilst he is a talismanic figure for the Italian outfit, his future in Naples is in considerable doubt. Arsenal have been told that Osimhen is likely to be available in the coming summer, as he is yet to agree a new contract with Napoli.
Arsenal face expensive striker decision
However, even if he is on the market, he certainly won’t come cheap. Napoli are thought to want at least £150 million in exchange for Osimhen. Given the current going rate of players in the transfer market, and how highly ranked amongst elite strikers in the global game Osimhen is, it is easy to see why Napoli have put such a price tag on him.
Arsenal have shown a willingness to spend recently. The Gunners paid a club-record £105 million fee to secure the services of Declan Rice in the recent summer transfer window. The north London club would have to smash that record again to snap up the 27-cap Nigeria international.
Charles Watts reveals Victor Osimhen contact
Journalist Charles Watts is aware that Arsenal have been tracking Osimhen for some time. Speaking on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, Watts discussed the Gunners’ interest in the player dating back to the summer of 2022, about which he says, “my info on Osimhen is Arsenal have a long-term interest…they’ve spoken with the agent, they’ve met with the agent.”
Focusing on the present, he believes the club still intend to try to sign the player. Watts said, “I don’t think it will be January, I think it will be summer when Arsenal really push for a striker…If Victor Osimhen is on the market or could be secured from Napoli, Arsenal’s interest will not have gone away.”
It would represent a huge statement of intent from Arsenal if they were able to bring Osimhen to the club. However, it will not be an easy deal to get done, and clearly Arsenal do not feel convinced enough about their prospects of landing the player to not have some alternative options also under serious consideration.
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