Arsenal’s surprising Eddie Nketiah decision means that Edu must now target Victor Osimhen as the striker to sign in the summer. Nketiah and Osimhen would create a good striker combination compared to the other forwards the Gunners have been linked with.
It seems as though Nketiah will be set to stay at the club in the near future. According to the Daily Mail, the Hale End academy graduate is closing in on a new contract that will see him beyond this summer. The report claims that the details included a five-year deal that would take him until 2027 at the club with a wage of £100,000-per-week. There is also a £5million bonus that will be paid out across the deal, potentially saving the Gunners millions in signing another striker.
The Gunners had also been heavily linked to Gabriel Jesus in the summer transfer window. But due to the similarities in the style of play between Jesus and Nketiah, Osimhen would certainly be the more attractive option.
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Charles Watts at Goal reported on Tuesday morning that Arsenal are also exploring the option of Victor Osimhen, who is reportedly available for £84million. The Gunners have been tracking the forward over the last few years.
Osimhen is certainly the more attractive option than Jesus now it seems that Nketiah is staying at the club. The Napoli forward is an athletic, quick and imposing attacker. He mixes a lightning turn of pace with long-distance speed and is certainly more than capable of being a prominent threat on the counter-attack for Arsenal.
The Nigerian international certainly would fit the Arsenal profile, and he has previously been courted by former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. Osimhen has been the star player for Napoli and his national team since making the switch from French side Lille in 2019 after scoring 18 league goals in a single campaign.
Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia revealed that the Nigeria international was close to joining Arsenal last year before completing a move to the Naples-based club instead, and Osimhen himself has previously claimed that the Gunners had enquired for him as a youngster.
Speaking to The Independent back in 2020, Osimhen said: “I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament (Under-17 World Cup) ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal.
“I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest. Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18.”
Osimhen would be an excellent addition for the Gunners. While Jesus seems to Edu’s preferred transfer target it would be good for Arteta to have a difference in striking options, which Nketiah and Jesus would struggle to offer due to the similarities in their stature and style of play. Osimhen would be able to offer a different style to the Brazilian.