Arsenal and Manchester United both need to improve on their attacking department in the summer transfer window, meaning they could be set to battle for similar transfer targets. This has been proven by both teams’ interest in Victor Osimhen from Napoli.
However, the striker has already hinted that he would prefer to join Arsenal over the Red Devils. According to Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen would be happy to join the Gunners, although there is no definitive agreement yet because the Nigeria international wants to play in the Champions League next season.
Manchester United’s recent poor run of form means that they will be officially out of the running for a place in the Champions League if Arsenal win just one of their last four Premier League matches, with Ralf Rangnick’s men needing to maintain a perfect record until the end of the season to even stand a chance of making the top four.
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That hands Arsenal the major advantage in signing Osimhen, despite the Old Trafford side's interest in the striker, according to the Daily Mirror. There are four games left to play in the Premier League this season, and the Gunners are in the driving seat for a top-four finish as Arteta’s side currently sit two points ahead of Spurs who are in fifth place.
The Gunners will be in desperate need of two new strikers in the summer transfer window, with Alexandre Lacazette’s departure looking likely and despite Eddie Nketiah's recent excellent turn of form, his days at the Emirates are also looking increasingly numbered. Both players’ contracts are set to expire at the end of the season and they have been linked with moves away from the club.
Crystal Palace are hopeful of signing Nketiah on a free transfer in the summer. Patrick Vieira's failed to bring him at the start of this season, with the two clubs unable to agree on a fee, but this will no longer be an issue. Meanwhile, Lacazette has been linked with a return to his former club Lyon.
If Nketiah does depart from the club, along with Lacazette, then Folarin Balogun would be the only remaining striker at the club, meaning a signing will be required to help cope with the quality of the Champions League if Arsenal beat Spurs to a fourth-place finish.
Osimhen is an athletic, quick and imposing attacker. He mixes a lightning turn of pace with long-distance speed and is certainly more than capable of being a prominent threat on the counter-attack for Arsenal.
The Nigeria international certainly would fit the Arsenal profile, and he has previously been courted by former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. Osimhen has been the star player for Napoli and his national team since making the switch from French side Lille in 2019 after scoring 18 league goals in a single campaign.
Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia revealed that the Nigeria international was close to joining Arsenal last year before completing a move to the Napoli instead and Osimhen himself has previously claimed that the Gunners had enquired after him as a youngster.
Speaking to The Independent back in 2020, Osimhen said “I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament (Under-17 World Cup) ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal."
According to Italian news outlet La Gazzette dello Sport, the Gunners have set their sights on Osimhen, and are currently in the lead when it comes to important Premier League clubs chasing his signature. The report also goes on to claim that Napoli are likely to demand £82m for the striker.
If Arsenal do secure Champions League football next season, then Edu should certainly look to complete a deal for the forward. It is clear that Arsenal will have to spend a large amount of money to solve their striker crisis ahead of next season, especially if Manchester United are competing for the same players. But the pull of Champions League football could be a crucial advantage for Edu.
