Arsenal want Victor Osimhen this summer.
But could The Gunners be handed a leg-up from an unlikely source as Mikel Arteta endeavours to bring a new number nine to the Emirates Stadium?
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Chelsea whizzkid Armando Broja is one of the leading candidates to take Victor Osimhen’s place at Napoli. And it is no secret that the spring-heeled Nigeria international may be available for the right price this summer. Albeit a rather hefty one.
Arsenal – leading the chase for Osimhen’s signature if Gazzetta dello Sport are to be believed – will have to shell out a club-record fee in the region of £80 million.
But the Gunners were willing to pay a similar fee for Dusan Vlahovic. Before he took the Roberto di Baggio route from Fiorentina to Juventus of course.
Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, two other centre-forwards heavily linked with a big-money move to the Emirates Stadium, would also cost in excess of £70 million.
What’s more, The Sun say Arsenal will back Arteta with the biggest summer splurge in the club’s entire history. A £180 million warchest would allow the London giants to strike a deal for Osimhen and retain more than enough funds to bring in a progressive central midfielder, a new centre-half and cover in the full-back areas.
“Osimhen is stronger than (Dusan) Vlahovic,” Serie A legend Alessandro Altobelli said a couple of weeks ago.
“In this moment, he is enjoying great growth. And, for me, he is better than Vlahovic.”
Arsenal want Victor Osimhen
Now, much could depend on whether Chelsea are willing to let Broja, one of the most exciting breakthrough stars of the 2021/22 Premier League season, step into Osimhen’s boots at the Stadio San Paolo. If they are, then this could spring a chain of events into action.
The effervescent Albanian has struggled for form in recent weeks. Much to the frustration of Saints coach Ralph Hasenhuttl. But Broja has still done more than enough to suggest he’s ready to fight for a place at Stamford Bridge. Especially with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner struggling for goals.
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Broja is likely to demand regular first-team football, however. A move to Napoli – either permanent or temporary – will hold plenty of appeal.
And, with Osimhen emerging as one of Arsenal’s top summer targets, Arteta will be keeping a very close eye on the blue-clad club from down the road.
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