Why Arsenal could not match Chelsea’s cunning offer for key Arteta striker target Victor Osimhen

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Arsenal have long been credited with an interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, but he could now be on the move to a Premier League rival.

Osimhen is one of Europe’s deadliest strikers, and he wrote himself into history as he fired Napoli to their first league title since the days of Diego Maradona in 2023.

Arsenal have been linked with several strikers including Viktor Gyokeres, but Kai Havertz’s form as a centre-forward has reduced the need to spend big on a number nine.

However, it now appears that Osimhen could end up joining Chelsea on loan with an option to buy, a deal which would negate any potential red flags over the player, but this was something Arsenal could not do.

Arsenal could not match Chelsea bid for Victor Osimhen because of Romelu Lukaku

David Ornstein has revealed that Chelsea are in talks over a loan deal for Osimhen, which would see outcast striker Romelu Lukaku go the other way on a permanent transfer.

“Napoli in ongoing talks with Chelsea to sign Romelu Lukaku while discussions between SSC Napoli and Chelsea also taking place about move for Victor Osimhen in opposite direction. Lukaku would be permanent, Osimhen season-long loan and buy option,” Ornstein posted on X.

Lukaku was a disastrous record deal for Chelsea in 2021, moving back to Inter in Serie A just a year later, before joining Roma on loan last season.

The Belgian is still on Chelsea’s books, and is of great interest to Inter manager Antonio Conte, and this prevented Arsenal from making an offer for Osimhen on similar terms.

Arsenal had no Romelu Lukaku equivalent to offer Napoli in exchange for Victor Osimhen

Napoli’s interest in Lukaku stems from his strong record in Serie A, and his physicality suits Conte’s style of play.

They were therefore willing to let Osimhen depart for a bargain loan deal with an option to buy to land Lukaku, and Arsenal had no equivalent player to offer.

Whilst Eddie Nketiah looks set to leave this summer, he does not have the same level of physicality or Serie A pedigree that Lukaku provides, and Conte was unlikely to be interested in him.

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If this deal goes ahead, Chelsea will be able to land Osimhen, who was greatly admired by Mikel Arteta, and if the warning signs over his injury record end up proving a problem, they will be able to end his loan without activating the option to buy.