Arsenal ‘leads’ £133m Victor Osimhen chase
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen during this summer’s transfer window, according to recent reports.
Osimhen has enjoyed an extremely productive 2022/23 campaign, netting 19 Serie A goals in just 21 outings.
This has helped his side build a whopping 15-point gap at the top of the table.
That kind of form hasn’t gone unnoticed either as a number of top clubs across Europe have been linked to signing the Nigerian international, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United mooted as potential destinations this summer.
However, as per Italian outlet Rai, via Tutto Napoli, it is Arsenal that are current favourites to sign Osimhen ahead of United and Chelsea, whilst Paris Saint-Germain are also said to hold an interest in the 24-year-old.
It is also claimed that Napoli value their star centre-forward at around £133 million, which would be a British transfer record.
The Gunners’ current record-incoming was signing Nicolas Pepe for £72 million from Lille back in the summer of 2019, although the Ivorian never quite lived up to the hype, currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Nice for the season.
Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia previously revealed that Osimhen was close to joining Arsenal before completing a move to Napoli in 2020 and the player himself has previously claimed that the north Londoners tried to sign him a few years before that as well.
“I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament (Under-17 World Cup) ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal,” he told the Independent back in 2020. I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest.
“Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18. Of course, one day I’d like to play for a big club in England… my priority is to play a lot of games. Signing for a big club and being on the bench is not exciting for me.”
