Newcastle United want to sign Victor Osimhen and are willing to offer Napoli’s Serie A hitman £150,000-a-week in an attempt to fight off Premier League rivals Arsenal, according to Calciomercato.
Two years ago, when those Saudi Arabian billionaires tried to complete their Tyneside takeover at the first time of asking, ambitious plans were being drawn up for Amanda Staveley and co to make Ciro Immobile the best paid player in Newcastle’s long history.
Flash forward to May 2022 and, with Immobile more committed than ever to life at Lazio, the newly-minted Magpies are ready to splash the case on another of Serie A’s most ravenous penalty-box poachers.
Watching Osimhen soar through the air to power home his 17th goal of an excellent season in Napoli’s 6-1 thumping of Sassuolo on Saturday, you’d have been forgiven for wondering if the Nigeria international had somehow managed to sneak onto the pitch with mini trampolines installed in the bottom of his football boots.
If they ever decide to add an eighth Wonder of the World to the existing seven, then Osimhen’s prodigious leap deserves to be in contention.
Newcastle want Victor Osimhen but so do Arsenal
“Osimhen is instinctive. He has exceptional instincts that dictate his movements,” Italian reporter Mario Sconcerti tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“I think he is stronger than (Roma’s England international Tammy) Abraham. Abraham is a mile above normal but I see something exceptional in Osimhen.”
He’s not the only one.
According to Calciomercato, Arsenal have set their sights on the former Lille talisman after missing out on Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus. It remains to be seen whether the Gunners can compete with the enviable financial muscle of their suddenly cash-rich rivals, however. The Oberyn Martell to Newcastle’s fearsome Mountain.
Newcastle are ready and willing to double Osimhen’s wages – offering him around £150,000-a-week. What’s more, they may be in a stronger position than Arsenal to meet Napoli’s £85 million price-tag.
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
“Osimhen is stronger than (Dusan) Vlahovic,” says Serie A legend Alessandro Altobelli. “In this moment, he is enjoying great growth. And, for me, he is better than Vlahovic.”
Arsenal do have one big advantage over Newcastle, however, in the shape of European football. Osimhen is reportedly uncertain about swapping Naples for Newcastle, with Champions League – or at least Europa League – action on offer elsewhere.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
