The £82m price tag that is quoted for Victor Osimhen is certainly worth paying for Arsenal. The Gunners were turned off from paying such a high amount for Alexander Isak, but Osimhen is proving he is worth the cash.
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.
Arsenal were reluctant to pay around a similar fee for Isak in the January transfer window, But the pedigree of Osimhen, makes him a much more attractive signing than the Swedish striker, as he is certainly better in quality, which has been proven by his goal-scoring record.
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Arsenal were heavily linked to Isak to solve these shortages, who is valued at just £58m by CIES Football observatory. But a deal never managed to materialise in the January transfer window due to reported concerns over his £75m release clause.
He currently plays for Real Sociedad and has scored 42 goals in 124 appearances for the La Liga side, showing plenty of promise along the way. But it would be risky to bring him in for such a high price, seeing as though he is yet to experience Champions League football or compete for the biggest trophies.
Osimhen is certainly the more attractive option. The Napoli forward 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 Nigerian 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 Naples-based club instead and Osimhen himself has previously claimed that the Gunners had enquired for 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." He said.
“I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest. Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18.”
It is clear that Arsenal will have to spend a large amount of money to solve their striker crisis ahead of next season. The Gunners were right in their decision not to activate the release clause of Isak, but the similar price quoted for Osimhen, should be a price tag that is met by the Gunners.
