Arsenal 'favourite' for record Victor Osimhen transfer despite Man Utd interest
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer despite interest from Manchester United and a number of other European clubs.
The 24-year-old is the outright top scorer in Serie A this season, having netted an impressive 19 goals in 21 matches. Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is second on 14 but has played four more games than Osimhen.
Having excelled for league-leaders Napoli this term, rumours are circulating over Osimhen's future with a whole host of Premier League teams interested in his signature. Arsenal are one of those keen to land the Nigerian striker as Mikel Arteta is expected to dip back into the transfer market this summer.
According to Italian outlet Rai, as relayed by Tutto Napoli, the Gunners are favourites to sign Osimhen ahead of United and Chelsea, who are ready to pounce if they get the opportunity to bring him in. Paris Saint-Germain have also been named as a possible destination as they boast a good relationship with Napoli. Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani and Fabian Ruiz are amongst the players to swap Naples for Paris in recent years.
It is understood only so-called 'big clubs' are speaking with Osimhen's entourage over a potential move. However, they would have to pay a record-breaking sum of money to prize him away from Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
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Rai claims that Napoli value Osimhen at least £133million, which would equate to a British record transfer, eclipsing Chelsea's £106m move for Enzo Fernandez in January. He wouldn't be PSG's record buy, however, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar bought for £159m and £197m respectively.
Which club should Victor Osimhen move to this summer? Have your say in the comments!
Victor Osimhen has scored 19 Serie A goals this season (Getty Images)Arsenal have never paid more than £72m for a player, having signed Nicolas Pepe for that amount from Lille back in 2019. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Ben White, Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Jesus complete their top-five most expensive transfers.
However, the Gunners will have to break their transfer record if they want to sign Osimhen - and it could be a risk worth taking. The north Londoners would be getting a prolific goalscorer, who also struck 18 times in all competitions last term as Napoli qualified for the Champions League.
Arteta's men are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and have won their last four top-flight matches. But the Gunners have had to rely on Eddie Nketiah as their only senior striker since the restart of domestic football in December following an injury to Gabriel Jesus.
Brazil ace Jesus had an excellent first half of the campaign before he suffered a knee issue at the World Cup - an injury that has put him out of action for the next three months. The Gunners have managed to cope in his absence, although Nketiah has scored just four times in 23 league matches, proving there is a need to sign another world-class forward in the summer transfer window.
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