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The Gunners have made their stance on a possible transfer for Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen clear to Napoli
Arsenal have reportedly communicated to Napoli that they will not be meeting Victor Osimhen’s hefty €130 million (£110.8 million) release clause.
With Mikel Arteta keen on bolstering his squad with a new striker after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title this past season, Osimhen was earmarked as a potential target for the Gunners, but his price tag appears to be the biggest stumbling block for a summer transfer.
Arsenal explore alternatives to expensive Osimhen
After helping Napoli secure a sensational Serie A crown in the 2022/23 season scoring 26 goals in 32 games, Osimhen suffered an injury-blighted campaign the following season but still earned a bumper wage increase that also came with a €130 million release clause.
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Currently, Arsenal are apparently unwilling to take the plunge for Osimhen for that amount and hope to convince Napoli to reduce their asking price or, barring that, move for another target for a summer transfer.
With Osimhen’s high cost proving prohibitive, Arsenal are exploring other options to strengthen their attacking lineup. One prominent name on their shortlist is RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, the 19-year-old Slovenian who scored 14 goals the just-concluded Bundesliga season.
Sesko is reportedly available for a more manageable €65 million (£55.2 million) release clause, making him an attractive alternative for the North London club.
Osimhen transfer leaves Napoli hanging
Napoli have been open to selling Osimhen for several months, but Club president Aurelio de Laurentiis is holding out for a team willing to trigger the €130 million clause. However, no concrete proposals have come close to this figure.
Although Saudi Pro League clubs could afford such a high fee, Osimhen prefers to continue his career in Europe. This situation has put Napoli in a difficult position, as they need the funds from Osimhen's transfer to finance their new signings this summer.
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One of Napoli’s key targets is reuniting their new head coach Antonio Conte with Romelu Lukaku, who is returning to Chelsea after a loan spell at Roma. However, Chelsea insist that Lukaku’s £38 million release clause must be met, and Napoli will likely need to sell Osimhen before they can make a move for the Belgian striker.
Chelsea had also shown strong interest in Osimhen but have withdrawn from the race due to the high transfer fee and concerns over his injury record.
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