Arsenal in talks with Napoli for Osimhen as agent lands in London

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Arsenal have held talks with Napoli over a move for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen with the North London club looking to strengthen their attack for next season.

The Gunners are looking to shake off the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League by revamping their squad this summer, adding the type of player Mike Arteta feels will take his squad to the next level.

With the departure of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in January and Alexandre Lacazzete set to leave next month, Arteta has identified Osimhen as an upgrade to Lacazette and Nketiah who has agreed to extend his contract with the Gunners.

The Napoli striker is among the players Arsenal are talking to alongside Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus who is said to be their main target this summer.

According to Goal’s Charles Watt, Osimhen’s agent flew into London last week for a meeting with Arsenal’s technical director Edu to discuss a potential transfer.

Arsenal are aware, however, that it will be very difficult to convince Napoli to part ways with their star striker.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is known as an extremely tough negotiator and would want to receive far more than the £68 million ($85m) transfer fee that he paid Lille to sign the 23-year-old in 2020.

With Napoli qualified for next season’s Champions League, it will make it even more difficult to prise Osimhen away from the Serie A club.

Osimhen was named Serie A Young Player of the Year with 14 goals and 5 assists for Napoli in the just concluded season.

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