Premier League powerhouse Arsenal has reportedly ceased its pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen due to his hefty €130m price tag and emerging player swap rumors, according to Elliptical News.
Osimhen, who has enjoyed four successful seasons with Napoli, is expected to leave the 2022/23 Serie A champions this summer, as confirmed by club president Aurelio de Laurentiis. Despite Napoli's efforts to retain the Nigerian international by renewing his contract until 2026, the inclusion of a €130m release clause has made it challenging for the club to keep him.
Arsenal, along with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid, has been linked with Osimhen. However, Real Madrid is not pursuing him due to their recent acquisition of Kylian Mbappe. Chelsea's new manager, Enzo Maresca, also appears to be against signing the 25-year-old, as he does not fit his tactical requirements.
This situation seemed to set up a potential bidding war between PSG and Arsenal. Reports suggested Arsenal could have explored a part-exchange deal involving Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu. However, according to Sky Italia, Arsenal has informed Napoli that they will not meet the €130m demand, especially after their record £105m signing of Declan Rice last year.
While Arsenal remains an admirer of Osimhen, they find it difficult to justify such a significant expenditure. This sentiment is shared by most of Osimhen’s other potential suitors, potentially pressuring De Laurentiis to lower his financial demands.
Adding to this pressure is the arrival of Antonio Conte at Napoli, who reportedly aims to bring Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea as one of his first actions as head coach.
With Arsenal out of the picture, PSG is now seen as the frontrunner for Osimhen's signature. The former Lille striker is reportedly not interested in moving to Saudi Arabia, and PSG is set to save €200m in annual wages following Mbappe's departure.
Osimhen was the top scorer in Serie A for the 2022/23 season with 26 goals and netted 15 times in the 2023/24 season, despite missing significant time due to injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations.
