Napoli striker Victor Osimhen admits that he is aware of interest from Premier League clubs as Arsenal and Newcastle United chase the Nigeria international, speaking to Il Mattino.
Osimhen won’t come up against opposition as obliging as this every week.
Sao Tome and Principe are 183rd in the FIFA World Rankings, after all, sandwiched between Macau and Dominica. Four goals in one game is still four goals in one game, however, and Osimhen’s starring role in Nigeria’s biggest-ever win in international football is a continuation of the formidable form he showcased at club level, the former Lille frontman establishing himself beyond all doubt as a centre-forward of genuinely world-leading potential.
According to Il Mattino, Arsenal failed with a £51 million bid recently. This comes after Osimhen’s agent jetted in to London in order to hold talks with Gunners director Edu Gaspar (Goal). Nouveau-riche Newcastle made contract too, as reported by Calciomercato, with Napoli determined to hold out for a fee in the region of £70 million.
Is Victor Osimhen on his way to Arsenal or Newcastle United?
“My future? I know there are many who would like me in Spain or England,” says Osimhen. “But I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about it now that I’m with the national team.
“I don’t know my future. I know that anything can happen. but now I just want to go on vacation and recharge my batteries. Then we’ll take care of the rest.”
Hardly the sort of comments that will calm the fears of those famously impassioned Napoli supporters, even if Arsenal do appear to be prioritising a proven Premier League number nine in the shape of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, a player former Etihad Stadium coach Mikel Arteta knows like the back of his hand.
“I am convinced that he will become a top player in the world,” says Mario Notaro, the former sporting director of Osimhen’s old employers Charleroi.
“He is truly extraordinary and has incredible quality. It is no coincidence he is showing what he is capable of.”
Liverpool have also been linked with Osimhen but are now on the verge of landing Benfica goal-machine Darwin Nunez.
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