As rumours of a summer move to the Premier League continue to surface, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is said to have set the conditions for his next club. The Mirror reports, through football365, that Napoli has given the player’s representatives permission to send out feelers to Premier League clubs.
Arsenal has been linked with a bid for the Nigerian international, as Edu tries to bolster Mikel Arteta’s front line. The Gunners will pursue two centre-forwards this summer, as previously reported. While Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Roma’s Tammy Abraham are believed to be on the club’s radar, rumors claim that Osimhen is also a possibility.
Nonetheless, transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio has informed the Gunners and Edu that the club will have to pay at least €100 million (£83.7 million) to get his signature.
In an interview with wettfreunde, Di Marzio said: “He was bought for €70 million, so I don’t imagine he’ll be sold for €80 million. So, I believe that (Aurelio) De Laurentiis is a great buyer and a tough seller.
I don’t think he’ll sell Osimhen for less than €100 million – at the very least. So, it all relies on which Premier League club has all of this money to spend on a single player.”
The Italian journalist later stated that the Gunners need a player like Osimhen at the Emirates next season in order to continue their development under Arteta, but that they would have competition from Ligue 1 heavyweights PSG.
“Obviously, Arsenal needs a guy like him because he has a fantastic mentality and would be ideal for Arsenal, Manchester United, or even PSG,” he continued. “If PSG has to acquire another striker after Mbappe, he will most likely go to Real Madrid, and Icardi will most likely be sold. Osimhen will be ideal for Paris or Arsenal, but they must be aware that the price will be at least €100 million.”
The Serie A season is coming to a close, and the two Milan clubs will duke it out in the final few games to determine who will be crowned champions. Napoli had a chance to win the prized trophy, but their title challenge has weakened in recent weeks, with some disappointing performances.
Later, Di Marzio admitted that if Napoli had won the Serie A, it would have been easier for Osimhen to find a new club. “If Napoli had won Serie A, it would have been easier for him to leave,” he added. “De Laurentiis is under the pressure of the people, of the fans, and they are in a difficult situation right now after the losses, and they have to qualify for the Champions League.” “As Osimhen is Napoli’s best player, other clubs will find it difficult to sign him in the summer.”
