Arsenal might step in to thwart Chelsea’s potential swap deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer, following Paris Saint-Germain’s withdrawal from the pursuit.
The Gunners have already secured two signings this summer: David Raya from Brentford for £27 million, after his loan spell at the Emirates last season, and Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in a deal worth approximately £42 million.
Despite these additions, Arsenal is still in the market for a new striker, with Eddie Nketiah likely to move to Marseille, despite the Gunners rejecting the French side’s latest offer.
David Ornstein recently confirmed that Chelsea and Napoli are in talks about a deal involving Romelu Lukaku, with discussions also covering the possibility of Osimhen moving to Chelsea.
However, Football Insider reports that Arsenal could disrupt Chelsea’s plans by pursuing Osimhen themselves, as Mikel Arteta is still keen on signing a number nine this summer.
Arsenal has long been interested in the Napoli striker, though acquiring him would be expensive. Nevertheless, they might attempt to hijack the transfer to secure Osimhen. Arteta sees a new striker as the final piece needed to close the gap with Manchester City in the Premier League next season.
In addition to a striker, Arteta is also looking to strengthen the central midfield. Arsenal has been linked with several players, and there are suggestions they could make a move for Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes before the month ends. Guimaraes is rumored to have a release clause of around £100 million, though Newcastle might consider offers exceeding £80 million.
TeamNewsAndTix has suggested that Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, valued at around £30 million, could be part of a deal for Guimaraes. In a podcast, it was mentioned that Newcastle might still have financial concerns, making a deal involving Bruno and Ramsdale feasible.
Another midfielder heavily linked with Arsenal is Mikel Merino. Journalist Charles Watts, who has covered Arsenal extensively, expects the club to intensify their interest in Merino now that the Calafiori deal is finalized.
Watts wrote that Arsenal will likely ramp up efforts to bolster their midfield, with Merino being a key target. The club identified him before the Euros, and his performances for Spain have reinforced his potential impact in the Premier League.
Despite interest from Spanish clubs, Arsenal seems poised to pursue Merino, especially after securing Calafiori. Other midfielders have been mentioned, such as Fabian Ruiz, but Watts believes Merino is the main target.
He would bring versatility, crucial under Arteta, and along with Calafiori, could enhance Arsenal’s left-sided options for the upcoming season.
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