Chelsea have pivoted away from the idea of signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer for a reason that appears to leave rivals Arsenal with a clear run at the Nigeria international should they choose to take it.
Price is naturally a consideration for both clubs and one of the reasons that interest in Osimhen has cooled from both Chelsea and Arsenal’s perspective.
But there may come a time this summer when Napoli are forced to buckle on their demand that a buying club matches his €120 million release clause. Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League are willing, but what is less clear is if Osimhen is willing to throw away his peak years by playing away from the elite level.
The Serie A club, meanwhile, have a hole in their budget to fill due to a lack of European football. They had planned to sell Osimhen, who is on huge wages by their standards, this summer and retaining him could prove a long-term problem financially.
So while Napoli are being belligerent with their price, it is by no means entirely fixed.
Jhon Duran and Samu Omorodion of Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are respectively being followed, while TeamTalk has suggested that Osimhen is not even a player the Blues want any longer.
“With the Chelsea emphasis being on the system rather than around individuals, we understand that is one of the major stumbling blocks that has halted their interest in long-term target Victor Osimhen who is not seen as well suited to the new style of play and identity,” it is stated.
Arsenal in control of the deal
With Chelsea putting themselves out of the running, Arsenal are watching on.
Mikel Arteta’s side are not looking for a versatile player in this position. While they might want an attacking midfielder who can fit several roles, the Gunners have made it clear that they want a goalscoring No.9.
Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have previously been targeted, but Osimhen was their first love in this regard and a player they will still be keeping tabs on.
Price was the sticking point in Arsenal’s case, not style. If anything, he is exactly what Arteta wants.
Where it really gets interesting for the Gunners, though, is that they can afford to wait out the situation. Kai Havertz’s excellent form means that they are in no rush to sign a forward. It’s something they want, not something they need.
Injury issues are a concern, but not a deal breaker if he is available at the right price. At €120m, that’s not the case.
FootballTransfers previously revealed Arsenal are prepared to focus more on spending on midfield, yet if Osimhen’s price was to drop to an acceptable level, they would surely pivot back. This is not a dead deal.
The striker’s future now seems to be in the Gunners’ hands thanks to Maresca’s stance at Chelsea. Now they must play the waiting game.
