Arsenal reportedly want £67.5m striker Kanu said is ‘the best’, fans should be buzzing – TBR View

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Arsenal have a lot of work to do this summer with regards to bolstering their attacking ranks.

The Gunners tried to sign a new striker in the January transfer window, and Dusan Vlahovic was reportedly a top target.

However, not only did Arsenal fail to land a new centre-forward last month, but they lost two.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left to join Barcelona, while Folarin Balogun joined Middlebrough on loan.

And Arsenal’s remaining two strikers – Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – are both out of contract in summer.

On a more positive note, the Gunners’ wage bill is now much lighter after parting company with so many players.

Aubameyang’s departure alone will save Arsenal a reported £350,000-a-week.

This means the Gunners should have a bigger budget to go towards high-calibre forwards in the summer.

And according to The Mirror, Arsenal are now eyeing another of the best strikers in Serie A.

The outlet claims Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is one of the Gunners’ top targets when the window reopens.

If this report is true, Arsenal fans should be excited, as the 23-year-old is a superb player.

Arsenal rekindling interest in “phenomenal” striker?

Links between Arsenal and Osimhen go back a couple of years.

The Gunners were heavily linked with the Nigeria international in 2020, but Napoli signed him instead.

Indeed, Arsenal were reportedly “really close” to landing Osimhen from Lille, according to Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia.

Speaking to 1 Station Radio last September – via football.london – he said: “You must know that Osimhen was followed by Arsenal.

“He was very close to the Gunners, but (Napoli director of sport) Cristiano Giuntoli spoke with Aurelio De Laurentiis and the president broke the delay.

“So Napoli decided and managed to buy him.”

Arsenal missed out on a top talent, with the Naples club paying Lille a reported 81.3m Euro (around £67.5million) for Osimhen.

Now, 18 months on, Osimhen has more than proven himself in Serie A, has 10 goals from 18 Nigeria caps and boasts more experience, but is still just 23.

And with his contract running until 2025, Napoli’s hand will be very strong in negotiations – so Arsenal could have to pay a lot.

Nonetheless, Osimhen would be worth it.

“Still plenty of room for improvement”

In September 2021, Breaking the Lines wrote about Osimhen: “While his efficiency in front of goal may be his biggest asset, he is far from just a goalscoring poacher.

“He is a rapid striker with a long stride and insatiable pressing, who can hold up the ball with his back to goal and free up space for his teammates, who has the physicality to come out on top against any defender in Italy, and who can wreak havoc in transition with his superb link-up play and shrewd movement.

“Osimhen allows Napoli the ability to play a vertical style of play but is also capable of utilizing his unique strengths against compact defenses.

“He runs an average of 8 km per game and executes pressures during 63% of his playing time, per Lega Serie A, he will go blow for blow in the air no matter whether it’s a throw-in or a long ball, he will attack every single cross, and as impressive as his current form is… there’s still plenty of room for improvement.”

“He is the one on top”

In the same month, Arsenal icon and Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu waxed lyrical about Osimhen.

He believes the reported Gunners target could become the next Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award.

Kanu, who won the AFOTY accolade in 1999, is quoted by All Nigeria Soccer as saying: “If I ask you, in Italy who is the best player there?

“(Victor Osimhen), he is doing fantastically well. If he keeps on doing it and keeps on doing it, definitely.

“We have other players who are doing well but I think for now, presently, he is the one on top.”