Victor Osimhen Prefers Premier League Move Amid Saudi Interest as Chelsea and Arsenal Monitor Situation
Victor Osimhen has expressed his desire to move to the Premier League before the transfer deadline, despite receiving a substantial offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.
Al Ahli recently approached Napoli with a £65 million bid for Osimhen, who has been prolific in Serie A, scoring 65 goals in 108 appearances.
His best season came in 2022-23, when he netted 31 goals across all competitions, playing a crucial role in helping Napoli win the Scudetto.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal have been closely monitoring Osimhen, as they look to strengthen their attacking options before the summer transfer window closes.
Chelsea, despite scoring six goals against Wolves last weekend, believe that adding another striker would greatly benefit new manager Enzo Maresca.
While they signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal last summer for £32 million, the Senegal international had a mixed first season, prompting Chelsea to consider acquiring another forward. Brentford’s Ivan Toney is also on their radar.
Arsenal, on the other hand, had a strong offensive output last season, with goals shared among players like Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard.
However, many pundits believe that signing a top-tier striker like Osimhen could elevate Mikel Arteta’s team to the next level, especially after finishing second in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons.
Despite Al Ahli’s lucrative offer, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has downplayed the possibility of a move to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Osimhen still has much to achieve in Europe.
Calenda highlighted that Osimhen recently renewed his contract with Napoli, and his focus remains on his career in Europe. He also stressed the need for “respect and balance” when discussing Osimhen’s future, noting that the player was recently named African Footballer of the Year and placed eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Osimhen has reportedly made it clear that his preference is to move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Arsenal remaining interested.
However, if a Premier League transfer does not materialize, he is expected to stay at Napoli for at least another season. Chelsea, while keen on signing Osimhen, would need to offload players and raise funds to justify the purchase before the transfer window closes.
Maresca is reportedly looking to remove Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell from the squad, while Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Trevoh Chalobah are also nearing exits.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s recent focus in the transfer market has been on securing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad for £31 million. Arteta praised Merino’s technical ability and leadership, noting that his addition would significantly strengthen the squad.
Victor Osimhen Prefers Premier League Move Amid Saudi Interest as Chelsea and Arsenal Monitor Situation
