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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Arsenal eyeing £50m transfer for 'next Victor Osimhen' as Man Utd chase Napoli star

Arsenal are readying an approach for Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, though it is claimed Napoli could rival the Gunners for his signing.

Hojlund has made a big impact during the international break, scoring five goals in two senior outings for his country. The 20-year-old also has seven league goals in his first Serie A campaign for Atalanta, having joined from Sturm Graz over the summer, and Real Madrid have also scouted the youngster.

Napoli's reported interest comes as Manchester United remain interested in their star man Victor Osimhen. Nigeria striker Osimhen is the top scorer in Serie A this term as Napoli close in on a first Scudetto since 1990.

According to Tutto Atalanta (via Sport Witness ), Arsenal and Napoli are two of four clubs in the mix for the young forward, with the Gunners ready to make a bid. AC Milan have also been linked with a move, as have Champions League-chasing Newcastle.

The two Italian clubs could need attacking reinforcements for different reasons. While Napoli could be bracing themselves for bids for Osimhen, Milan's veteran frontman Olivier Giroud is out of contract at the end of the current season.

Hojlund would not come cheap. After joining Atalanta for €17m from Sturm Graz over the summer, Gian Piero Gasperini's side are being tipped to hold out for more than double that, with sums of £44m or more being mentioned in the Italian press.

Should Arsenal move for Hojlund? Have your say in the comments section

Rasmus Hojlund scored five times in his last two Denmark games (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Osimhen, who joined Napoli for €70m (£61m) in 2020, has a league-leading 21 goals in the Italian top flight this season. No other player has more than 14, and his goals have helped Napoli open up a 19-point lead at the top with just 11 matches remaining.

Man Utd and Chelsea have both been linked with the former Lille man, but it has been suggested he could cost more than £100m if allowed to leave Naples this summer. Arsenal narrowly missed out on the 24-year-old when he was still in his teens, with Osimhen instead opting for Wolfsburg at the time.

If Osimhen stays put, it could have repercussions for Hojlund's future. And former Arsenal frontman Thierry Henry has run the rile over the Napoli star as both he and Harry Kane are linked with Man Utd.

"Ah, personally you know what - because, sorry it's personal and sorry Napoli fans but we are talking about something that can happen or not, but again because of the Premier League and he knows the Premier League, I am United, I go Kane," Henry told CBS Sports.

"That doesn't mean Osimhen isn't a good player or whatever, it has nothing to do with that, I think Osimhen can adapt in any league but if I am United I would look at 'okay, this guy [Kane] doesn't need to adapt to anything. He has a way of dropping that can allow Marcus Rashford to run in behind him when he drops, Kane can play anywhere also."

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