Arsenal in talks over £77m Victor Osimhen deal, with the Nigerian to leave Napoli this summer: report

Posted Friday, March 29, 2024 by fourfourtwo.com

Arsenal are front of the queue for Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian poised for a huge move

Arsenal in talks over £77m Victor Osimhen deal, with the Nigerian to leave Napoli this summer: report
Victor Osimhen is close to moving to Arsenal (Image credit: Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Arsenal are in talks over a huge deal to bring Victor Osimhen to the Emirates Stadium – and the Gunners are “confident” of the move happening.

Mikel Arteta's team are the top scorers in the Premier League this season but have lacked real firepower in attack. Gabriel Jesus has spent much of the season injured, while Eddie Nketiah has lost his place as the Brazilian's backup, with Kai Havertz preferred in attack.

A striker is said to be high on the agenda for Arsenal this summer, and it seems as if Arteta is looking to shop at the very top table, with Osimhen tracked by a number of elite European sides.

Il Mattino in Italy are reporting that Arsenal have opened talks over a move for the Napoli hitman and are at the front of the queue to sign him, following club president Aurelio De Laurentiis's confirmation earlier this season that his No.9 will leave this summer.

It has been claimed all season that this will be Osimhen's final in Italy, having clinched the Scudetto last season, with the north Londoners one of the primary suitors to sign the Nigerian.

Italian outlet CalcioNapoli have previously relayed claims from journalist Ciro Venerato that Arsenal have established contact with Osimhen, with a fee of £77m – much lower than the previously stated release clause – touted as enough to secure the star. In FourFourTwo's view, however, it is incredibly unlikely that a breakthrough on this transfer will be reached at least until the summer.

Osimhen may well have agreed terms on a move himself – but the real test for Arsenal will be negotiating with De Laurentiis, who drives a hard bargain.