The summer transfer window is heating up, and one man in the spotlight is Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen.
Reports indicate that Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on a massive deal to secure the Nigeria international, leaving Arsenal and Chelsea in the lurch.
Osimhen, 25, has been a goal machine for Napoli, netting 76 times in 133 appearances since his arrival in 2020. His impressive form has attracted attention from several top European clubs, including the Gunners and Chelsea, both eager to bolster their attacking options.
However, PSG appears to now be in pole position to sign Osimhen. According to Italian reports, the French club are increasingly confident about finalizing an £84 million ($109.3m) deal.
Osimhen’s agents have apparently already travelled to Paris for talks, and the discussions are thought to have been positive. PSG are eyeing Osimhen as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who was unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday.
This development is a blow for Arsenal, who are in the market for a new striker to reshuffle their forward line.
Eddie Nketiah is thought to be on his way out of the Emirates this summer, prompting the Gunners to consider alternatives like Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres has an £86 million ($112.1m) release clause, which Arsenal are said to be contemplating triggering. However, Napoli, anticipating Osimhen’s departure, are also apparently interested in Gyokeres.
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Chelsea to steal a march with Napoli already eyeing Victor Osimhen replacement?
Napoli are not sitting idle in the transfer market, and the fact they are being heavily linked with forward players lends some credence to the theory that Osimhen could be on his way out of the club.
The Serie A side are reportedly planning to reinvest the funds from any Osimhen sale into signing a new forward, and apart from Gyokeres, another name they have been linked with is Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian striker, currently out of favor at Stamford Bridge, would likely be available for a fee in excess of £21 million ($27.3m) and has a proven track record in Italy, scoring 21 goals while on loan at Roma last season.
There are suggestions that Lukaku could be used as a makeweight in any potential Chelsea move for Osimhen, which could complicate matters further.