Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on where Arsenal and Chelsea currently stand in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen.
Arsenal certainly hold an interest in Victor Osimhen.
Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Osimhen for some time. It is not hard to see why Mikel Arteta would be keen to bring the Nigerian striker to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners currently lack a truly prolific goalscorer to spearhead the attack. Kai Havertz has impressed as a false-nine in recent weeks, but his finishing is somewhat unreliable. Equally, for all of his quality, Gabriel Jesus simply does not score enough goals. So far this season, across 19 Premier League appearances, the Brazilian forward has netted just four times. Jesus has made a vow to try to become more clinical in front of goal, but he unlikely to ever be a truly prolific presence in the final third.
Osimhen, meanwhile, has the capacity to be an absolute goal machine. Last season, the 25-year-old netted 31 times in 39 matches, across all competitions, as he fired Napoli to an historic Serie A title triumph.
Arsenal yet to make Victor Osimhen their priority
So far in the current campaign, despite Osimhen having had a fractious relationship with the Italian club he plays for, he has still been able to amass 13 goals in 24 appearances.
He also has all the attributes needed to thrive in the Premier League. He is powerful, fast, and possesses excellent technical ability. His link-up play is often overshadowed by his goalscoring exploits, but Osimhen is capable of doing far more with the ball, beyond simply sticking it into the back of the net.
Osimhen would not come to north London cheaply. Whilst he is expected to make a move this summer, Napoli have made it clear that the player’s release clause will have to be triggered in order for them to part with him.
Fabrizio Romano, as quoted by Caught Offside, has now revealed where the Gunners, and their London rivals Chelsea, now stand in their push to secure Osimhen’s services. The reporter said, “there’s nothing new on Victor Osimhen so far despite reports that Arsenal are ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign him. There is no ‘moving ahead’ because it’s not a proper race. There’s no negotiation with Napoli as there’s a release clause, so it’s about paying that money and reaching an agreement with Osimhen. At the moment no club is close to that.”
Focus at Arsenal right now will very much be on this season, with the Gunners still fighting for glory in the Premier League and Champions League. As the summer draws closer, though, the decision over whether or not to make a concerted push for Osimhen’s signature will surely be made quickly.
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