In a recent turn of events, Arsenal have approached Victor Osimhen‘s entourage to initiate talks of a transfer to England, according to journalist Emanuele Cammaroto.
The Nigerian striker has been the subject of transfer speculation involving Arsenal and a few other Premier League clubs since December.
Osimhen, who is Serie A’s player of the month for March, has grown into one of Europe’s most feared attackers. Big, fast and strong, he is a menace for Serie A defenders, many of whom have testified to the difficulty in keeping him at bay.
He is currently Napoli’s leading goalscorer in all competitions despite missing three months thanks to a broken cheekbone. His tally of 12 Serie A goals from 21 matches played is the sixth most scored by a foreign national in the Italian league. It is also four more than the second highest goalscorer in the Napoli side this season, Lorenzo Insigne.
Arsenal have tried and failed to get Dusan Vlahovic in January, with the Serbian striker choosing Serie A giants instead. They are also sceptical about paying Real Sociedad in excess of €60 million for Alexander Isak, who is another striker they are interested in.
Osimhen will cost around the same amount, but with the Gunners desperate to make a major signing to restore the faith of the fans in the club’s administration, they have reportedly decided that the 23-year-old is worth a hefty investment.
Italian journalist Emanuele Cammaroto who broke the news claims that the striker is flattered by the Gunners’ undisclosed offer, but that they will have to do some work to convince him to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this summer.
“The big names of the Premier League are following him and are beginning to come forward, but Napoli’s idea is to keep the Nigerian centre forward at least for another season unless there are significant proposals,” Cammaroto said.
“At the moment, Arsenal has come forward and has sounded out the player’s entourage.
“Osimhen has registered the interest of the Gunners, and it seems that he has been flattered by the proposal, but he doesn’t consider Arsenal a first choice for his career.
“The former Lille bomber wants to play in the Champions League with Napoli, and then he will choose his future.”
Napoli could also be losing Mexican winger Hirving Lozano, who is reportedly being targeted by Real Madrid.
The former PSV Eindhoven forward is in his third season at Napoli and has not quite lived up to expectations. He has shown his quality on a number of occasions, but has managed to offer the kind of attacking threat that Dries Mertens and Insigne constantly offer for the club, leading to his being an expensive squad player.
The club, while not looking to sell the Mexican, will reportedly listen to offers of €35 million and above. Real Madrid and Sevilla have been reported to be ready to bid for the winger in the summer as they seek to revamp their squads, according to Spanish transfer news outlet Fichajes.
Inter Milan is also interested in the 26-year-old winger, who has only five goals and four assists in 32 appearances across all competitions for Napoli this term.
Real Madrid want the winger to replace either of Marco Asensio or Eden Hazard, who they plan to move on in the summer.
