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Arsenal are in the picture to sign Napoli star Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window.

Earlier this week, we carried a report from Gazzetta dello Sport, who stated the Gunners have ‘taken several concrete steps through intermediaries’ to acquire the 23-year-old’s services.

La Repubblica now explain that Arsenal are one of the sides that ‘attend’ the ‘auction’ for the Nigeria international.

On Wednesday, Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis met players and manager, Luciano Spalletti, at Castel Volturno, to discuss the reasons behind the club’s recent poor run. They picked up four points from their last four league matches.

La Repubblica further explain the Serie A side’s chief ‘remained cautious about the future’, even in the event of achieving Champions League qualification next season.

De Laurentiis thought he could offset the €70m invested in signing the former Lille man, but his plans suffered a setback due to Covid. The frontman is ‘now in serious danger of being sold’ in the next window, and Arsenal are among his suitors.

Osimhen and his Italian agent, Roberto Calenda, had a ‘secret meeting’ with the Serie A side’s chief yesterday afternoon. There was a proposal from Manchester United, who are in an ‘advantageous position in the auction’, over Mikel Arteta’s side and other clubs.

Regarding the player, the report explains his chances of staying at the Naples club are ‘now drastically reduced’ and ‘there is appreciation’ on his part for the English adventure.

Osimhen seems open to leaving Napoli and making a switch to England in the summer. Arsenal are in the mix, but they need to find a way to get ahead of United in the transfer race.