Premier League club Arsenal has reportedly ceased its efforts to sign Victor Osimhen from Serie A side Napoli. Napoli has set a firm price of €130 million for the Nigerian striker, which matches his release clause.
Initially, Napoli showed some openness to a deal involving cash plus two Arsenal players, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu. However, Arsenal was unwilling to meet the €130 million asking price and preferred not to exceed their record transfer fee of £105 million, spent on Declan Rice last summer. Due to the inability to reach an agreement, Arsenal has decided to withdraw from the negotiations and focus on other options, as reported by Sky Italia.
Chelsea, another club previously interested in Osimhen, has also stepped back. Their new manager, Enzo Maresca, reportedly believes Osimhen does not fit into his tactical plans.
In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has reignited their interest in Osimhen, especially as they search for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who has recently joined Real Madrid. Mbappe’s departure has freed up €200 million in yearly wages, which PSG is looking to invest in a new striker.
Victor Osimhen is viewed as a prime candidate to fill Mbappe’s void at PSG. The club’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and his directors are reportedly in direct contact with Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, to negotiate the transfer. Osimhen’s previous successful stint in the French Ligue 1 with Lille and his consistent goal-scoring record make him a top priority for PSG, despite his high price tag.
According to Il Mattino via TMW, PSG had initially stepped back from pursuing Osimhen but returned to the discussion table due to the lack of better alternatives in the transfer market.
