According to Italian outlet Tuttojuve, Arsenal are plotting to sign on-loan Napoli forward Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window with an offer around £65m being prepared by the Gunners, The PUNCH reports.
The report adds that the North London club are ready to trigger his release clause by placing a €75m (£61m) bid to sign the forward who has registered 27-goal contributions (22 goals and five assists) across all competitions this season.
Osimhen added a brace to his tally on Sunday, scoring a penalty and another goal in Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw against Kasimpasa.
The Nigerian international attracted persistent interest last summer, with Chelsea coming closest to sealing a deal before it fell through.
Amid interest from Manchester United as well, Arsenal are looking to fast-track the transfer as the Italian outlet claims that the club will submit a bid to beat competition from other clubs, including Juventus, to sign the Nigerian star.
Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu also reported that Arsenal are hijacking the Red Devils’ move for Osimhen.
Osimhen is currently on loan with Turkish League defending champions, Galatasaray, and he’s not going to return to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer, as he’s expected to leave with a year left on his contract.
During the last summer and winter transfer window, a prolific out-and-out centre-forward was believed to be high on Arsenal’s transfer list.
However, the Gunners didn’t give the 26-year-old a look until they were hit by a striker crisis during the second half of the 2024/25 season.
The Gunners are in the market this summer to sign a new centre-forward after injuries suffered by Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, with Mikel Arteta feeling the club needs a more reliable source of goals to lead the line going forward.
