Arsenal return for Osimhen after fee slashes.

According to Italian reports, Premier League giants Arsenal are preparing to make a bid for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen after Napoli dropped their asking price.

The Gunners, who finished second in the 2023/24 Premier League season, are now prepared to negotiate with the former Serie A champions. According to Il Matino, Napoli no longer insists on the €120 million release clause in Osimhen’s new contract, which was signed in December 2023.

Despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, the 25-year-old forward is uninterested in moving there. Napoli want to sell him this summer and focus on acquiring a new striker. However, completing a deal has proven difficult, despite Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis’ active involvement in the sale.

According to the Campania newspaper, Napoli has identified Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku and Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk as potential replacements if Osimhen leaves Diego Maradona Stadium this summer.

In the ongoing transfer saga, Manchester United has expressed interest in Osimhen and is reportedly considering a player-plus-cash deal involving striker Rasmus Hojlund, who joined the Red Devils last season and impressed in his debut season.

Despite Osimhen’s key role in Napoli’s recent success, including the Scudetto-winning 2022/23 season, the club is willing to cash in on him. His release clause, which was initially set between €120 million and €130 million, has proven to be a sticking point for potential buyers, prompting the club to recently lower its asking price to €100 million.

Osimhen has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain, but no official bids have been made, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Last summer, Napoli turned down a Saudi Arabian club’s offer of more than €200 million.

Osimhen, who was signed from Lille in 2020 for around €75 million, has established himself as one of the most exciting strikers in the world, making him a hot commodity for several top European clubs this summer.