Arsenal Set Sights on Napoli’s Osimhen as Asking Price Drops

Reports from Italy suggest that Arsenal is poised to bid for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen following a reduction in his transfer fee by Napoli. The Gunners, who secured a second-place finish in the 2023/24 Premier League, are now in talks with the former Serie A champions.

Napoli has now lowered Osimhen’s release clause from €120 million, as per his December 2023 contract. The 25-year-old striker, uninterested in a move to Saudi Arabia despite lucrative offers, is on the market as Napoli aims to sign a new forward. Negotiations, however, remain complex, with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis leading the efforts.

Napoli is eyeing Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku and Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk as potential replacements if Osimhen leaves the Diego Maradona Stadium this summer. Meanwhile, Manchester United has expressed interest, contemplating a player-plus-cash deal involving striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Osimhen, vital to Napoli’s recent triumphs including the 2022/23 Scudetto, could be sold despite his importance. Initially, his release clause was set between €120m and €130m, but the club has now adjusted it to €100m, attracting more potential buyers. While Chelsea, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest, no official bids have surfaced, and Napoli previously rejected a €200 million offer from a Saudi club last summer.

Signed from Lille in 2020 for approximately €75 million, Osimhen has emerged as one of the world’s most thrilling strikers, making him a prime target for Europe’s elite clubs this transfer season.