Reports suggest Arsenal might attempt to derail Chelsea’s proposed swap deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, especially now that Paris Saint-Germain has stepped back from the pursuit. Arsenal, having already secured two summer signings—David Raya from Brentford for £27 million and Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for approximately £42 million—remain keen on adding a new striker to their squad.
Eddie Nketiah’s possible move to Marseille, despite Arsenal rejecting the French club’s latest offer, leaves a void up front that manager Mikel Arteta is eager to fill.
Earlier in the week, David Ornstein confirmed that Chelsea and Napoli were in discussions regarding a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku, with Osimhen moving in the opposite direction. However, according to Football Insider, Arsenal could disrupt Chelsea’s plans and secure Osimhen for themselves.
Arteta views the acquisition of a top striker as a critical step towards closing the gap with Manchester City in the Premier League next season. While Arsenal has shown interest in Osimhen for some time, his signing would come at a considerable cost.
In addition to bolstering their attack, Arsenal is also exploring options to strengthen their central midfield. The club has been linked with several players, with Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes emerging as a potential target.
Despite Guimaraes’ release clause being set at around £100 million, there are indications that Newcastle might entertain offers exceeding £80 million.
There have been suggestions that Arsenal could offer goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, valued at about £30 million, as part of a deal for Guimaraes. Rumors persist that Newcastle might be open to such a deal due to financial considerations.
Another midfielder Arsenal has been linked with is Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad. Journalist Charles Watts, who closely follows Arsenal, believes that with Calafiori’s signing completed, the club will intensify its pursuit of Merino.
Watts highlights Merino’s versatility and physical attributes as ideal for the Premier League and suggests that Arsenal could benefit significantly from his addition.
While other midfield targets have been mentioned, Watts considers Merino the primary option, emphasizing his potential to strengthen Arsenal’s left-sided options for the upcoming season.
Leave a Reply