Premier League giants Arsenal have reportedly dropped their pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, citing his €130m price tag amid ongoing player swap rumours.
Osimhen, who has enjoyed four successful seasons at Napoli, is expected to depart from the 2022/23 Serie A champions this summer. Club president Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed this move.
Despite Napoli’s efforts to retain the Nigerian international, including a new contract signed last December, Osimhen’s terms only extend until the summer of 2026. The contract also includes a release clause of around €130m (£110.6m), making it difficult for Napoli to hold onto their star striker as European powerhouses circle ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Arsenal had been one of several clubs linked with a move for Osimhen, alongside Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid. However, Real Madrid is unlikely to make an approach following their acquisition of Kylian Mbappe.
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has also expressed reservations about signing the 25-year-old, citing concerns over Osimhen’s ability to link play and drop deep—key attributes for Maresca’s tactical plans.
Consequently, the race for Osimhen’s signature appeared to narrow to PSG and Arsenal. Reports suggested Arsenal considered a part-exchange deal involving Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu as a potential route to securing the striker.
However, according to Sky Italia, Arsenal has informed Napoli that they are unwilling to meet the £110.6m release clause. This decision comes after Arsenal broke their own transfer record with the £105m signing of Declan Rice last year.
While Arsenal continues to hold Osimhen in high regard, they cannot justify the nine-figure fee, a sentiment shared by most of Osimhen’s other suitors. As a result, De Laurentiis might have to reconsider his demand for the full release clause.
Adding to the pressure, the arrival of Antonio Conte as Napoli’s head coach has sparked rumors of a reunion with Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku, potentially influencing De Laurentiis to accept a lower fee for Osimhen.
PSG now emerges as the frontrunner for Osimhen’s signature, especially since the striker is not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia. The French champions are poised to save €200m (£170.1m) in yearly wages following Mbappe’s departure.
Osimhen topped the Serie A scoring charts in the 2022/23 season with 26 goals and netted 15 times in the 2023/24 season, despite missing significant time due to injuries and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
