Arsenal have officially entered the race to sign Victor Osimhen this summer, according to a report.
Yagiz Sabuncuoglu reports for Sports Digitale that Arsenal have entered the race to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer, after the striker returns from his currently loan to Galatasaray.
Sabuncuoglu claims that Arsenal have joined Manchester United in the race, with both clubs seemingly ahead of Chelsea despite previous links with the Blues.
The reporter adds that Osimhen is available for €75m (£61.9m), a figure clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and PSG would be willing to pay, but one which is probably beyond Galatasaray’s financial capacity.
As mentioned, Osimhen is on a season-long loan in Turkey, and he’s scored 20 goals in 27 games, providing a further five assists.
That run includes a brace against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, and the striker has also scored a couple of goals in his four appearances for Nigeria for AFCON qualifiers.
Yet perhaps the biggest reason to be dubious about links to Arsenal is the fact the Gunners didn’t make a move in January.
There’s no doubt that Arsenal had the incentive to move for a striker, with Gabriel Jesus out injured and Kai Havertz clearly tiring. And Charles Watts reported back in October that Osimhen’s deal contained a break clause that would allow him to move in January.
It’s not clear whether Osimhen would have been available for €75m in January, as he will be in the summer, so perhaps that’s the one key factor that may have encouraged Arsenal to delay.
But other than that, you’d think if Arsenal were interested, January would have been the time to make a move.