Following the loss to Crystal Palace on Monday evening, the idea that Arsenal could need a new striker in the summer is more than ever relevant.
After all, goals were hard to come by against Patrick Vieira’s side, and perhaps a more prolific forward than Alexandre Lacazette could have made more of an impact to avoid the 3-0 defeat.
One of the players linked with a move to the Emirates is Victor Osimhen, who is having a great season at Napoli, pushing his club into an impromptu challenge for the title under Luciano Spalletti.
The Naples side are currently second, one point behind leaders Milan, and have the Nigerian to thank for a chunk of their goals, as he has found the back of the net 11 times in 20 games, as well as four times in five appearances in the Europa League so far this season.
Bought from Lille for close to £70m, the forward would cost more than that in the summer, which is a fee Arsenal have spent just once in their existence, splashing £72m on Nicolas Pépé in a move that hasn’t exactly worked out.
Still, Corriere dello Sport look at Osimhen’s future, believing this could be the last season of his in the south of Italy, where he could win the title and then head to the Premier League.
It’s explained that after Newcastle’s desperate attempts in January, England’s top-tier ‘has never stopped sending him messages, which are not subliminal’.
It’s pointed out that Arsenal ‘have just lost Aubameyang’ before adding that ‘in June, they will find themselves with Lacazette expiring and a hole in the middle to be filled’.
That’s why Osimhen is a ‘strong temptation’ for them, but he would cost a pretty penny, and it really remains to be seen how much money the Gunners will be prepared to spend next season, with qualification for the Champions League likely key in the amount put at Mikel Arteta’s disposal.
