In a surprising turn of events, Arsenal have reportedly opted to abandon their pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, despite Napoli’s decision to lower their asking price for the 25-year-old.
According to sources from Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia, the North London club has now set its sights on an alternative target – Sporting Lisbon’s Victor Gyokeres. The Gunners believe that securing Gyokeres’ services would be a more financially viable option compared to the wage demands associated with Osimhen’s new contract, signed in December 2023.
While Napoli has reduced Osimhen’s transfer fee from the initial €130 million to €100 million, Arsenal has seemingly decided to shift their focus elsewhere. The report suggests that the Gunners consider Gyokeres’ potential wage packet more affordable and are now concentrating their efforts on securing a move for the Swedish forward.
However, securing Gyokeres will not come cheap for Arsenal, as they would still need to spend €100 million to pry him away from his Portuguese club.
The news comes as a surprise, as Osimhen had previously been heavily linked with a high-profile move to the Premier League. Both Manchester United and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the Nigerian international, though no official bids have been made thus far.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is said to be actively working on Osimhen’s sale this summer, despite the striker’s crucial role in the club’s recent successes, including the Scudetto-winning 2022/23 campaign.
The Devils have been linked with a potential player-plus-cash offer for Osimhen, which could see Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund move to Naples as part of the deal.
As the summer transfer window heats up, Arsenal’s decision to shift their focus from Osimhen to Gyokeres will undoubtedly be a talking point among football fans and pundits alike.