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Chelsea seems 'more likely' than Arsenal for Victor Osimhen as Napoli shortlist drawn up
Victor Osimhen has a decision to make in the summer transfer window between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Chelsea are reportedly more likely to land Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer than Arsenal as the Premier League giants continue to be linked with the Nigerian striker. Osimhen is expected to leave Italy at the end of the season and Napoli have already begun drawing up plans to replace their talisman.
Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Paris Saint-Germain are extremely keen on signing Osimhen in the summer as they attempt to replace the outgoing Kylian Mbappe. But they will face strong competition from Chelsea and Arsenal, with the former tipped to be the likely destination.
Napoli have already drawn up a four-man shortlist of potential Osimhen replacements which includes Joshua Zirkzee, Jonathan David, Victor Boniface and Santiago Gimenez. The Serie A side’s willingness to explore moves is a possible hint that Osimhen’s decorated spell in Naples is close to an end.
Despite a disappointing season for Napoli that saw Walter Mazzarri sacked and replaced by Francesco Calzona on Monday, Osimhen has continued to score goals.
He has hit the back of the net seven times in 11 Serie A starts and has already hinted that he wants to move to England. “I have already made my decision on the next step to do at the end of the season,” Osimhen told CBS Sport last month.
“I already made up my mind. I already have my plan, I know what I want to do, the next step I want to take. I think 60 per cent of the people mention the rumours about me linked with the Premier League. The Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world. I want to finish the season with Napoli strong then come up with the decision I’ve already made.”
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Furthermore, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that it is likely that Osimhen would leave in the summer: "This (Osimhen's exit) was already known since this summer, our negotiations (over a new contract) were friendly, otherwise it would not have been so long. We knew he would go to Real Madrid, PSG or a top English club.”
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are on the lookout for more firepower next season, but the Blues appear to have moved ahead and their willingness to spend big under Todd Boehly and co could help them land one of the top strikers on the market.
Mauricio Pochettino has trialled the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Armando Broja, Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling through the middle this season. But a marquee striker in the ilk of Osimhen would give the Blues a focal point that has been missing and they look to have taken the lead over Arsenal for his signature.