Just when you thought the January transfer window had offered everything it could, Arsenal fans have been pulled right back into their seats for the final days with yet another alluring story coming out of Italy.
Arsenal can supposedly land Napoli striker Victor Osimhen during the remaining days of the winter window. The Nigerian has only just recovered from an injury and has come off the bench in the Naples-based club’s last two games.
Arsenal missed out on Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic and the player now looks set to join Juventus. The Gunners were willing to part with serious money to acquire the Serbian and would need to follow a similar path to land Osimhen.
The report comes from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, via football italia, who claim that 'President Aurelio De Laurentiis would be prepared to sell for at least €70m.'
This is shockingly low, despite its on-the-surface size, as Napoli paid €80 million to Lille to sign Osimhen in 2020.
The reasoning for the drop in price, besides the latest injury issues, is not clear. However, the report suggests that the transfer of Osimhen from Lille is the subject of an investigation into inflated transfer fees over youth team players in part exchange.
Outlet Repubblica, via Tuttomercato, interviewed Luigi Ligouri. Involved in the deal for Osimhen, he was one of four Napoli players who joined Lille that summer.
“In June, Napoli called me and said: come to Castel Volturno, we have to talk. My agent and I went, the club offered us two options: I could renew for a year and stay or agree to go to Lille and sign for three years, joining the Osimhen operation,” explained Ligouri.
“What would you have done? I talked to my agent, and I accepted. On June 30th we signed with Lille. But we never went to Lille. Not even to sign. They sent the contracts to Naples, and we signed in Castel Volturno.”
Perhaps this is having an influence on the openness to do a deal? Speculative theories aside, if a player of Osimhen's quality is out there then the Gunners would be amiss to not try and land him.
Arsenal technical director Edu therefore could be willing to battle for the striker knowing the pressure the Italian side are seemingly under.
It would be a battle considering Newcastle United are also credited with an interest in the Nigerian forward who missed the African Cup of Nations due to testing positive for Covid-19.
Rapid, strong and a clinical finisher, Osimhen would add plenty of characteristics that Mikel Arteta is looking for in a forward. But his profile does differ from that of Dusan Vlahovic.
Nine goals and two assists in 16 games show, despite his absences, he is still firing strongly. He finished the previous campaign with ten Serie A goals in 24 matches.
If Arsenal want a striker who can add goals to their effort to reach the Champions League, few would look further than the talented 23-year-old.
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