Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe could realistically enter the market and save the club a lot of money. The Gunners continue to monitor Victor Osimhen’s development after missing out on Dusan Vlahovic in the winter transfer window.
Arsenal are exploring the idea of using the Frechman to bring down the net price of Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, who has emerged as the number 1 target for them to consolidate the frontline in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Gunners are expected to go all out in their attempts to sign the 23-year-old but his asking price could present a serious problem.
According to The Sun, the North Londoners are considering to sell winger Pepe in the upcoming transfer window. Although they had paid as much as 72 million pounds to sign him from Lille back in the summer of 2019, Arsenal aren’t hesitant to cut losses. The club is reportedly ready to sell him for even 25 million.
This report arrives after Italian outlet La Gazzette dello Sport claimed that Osimhen has emerged on Arsenal’s radar, and the side have been closely following him for a while. They are also the frontrunners in the race among Premier League clubs to land Osimhen’s signature.
Napoli, who had spent a club-record fee of 70 million euros to sign the Nigerian striker from Lille in 2020, could charge as much as 82 million to part ways with their star man. He has scored 22 goals in 47 appearances for Napoli in a spell that has largely been interrupted by injuries.
Ironically, back when Arsenal were in the hunt to sign Pepe, Napoli were also trying to land the player desperately. The Serie A club were so close to completing the deal that Lille’s club president had even claimed that they have met the necessary conditions to see the deal over the line.
“Napoli have satisfied our request of 80 million euros. Now it will be up to the player to decide where to go, also on the basis of other proposals that his agents received from four clubs,”
Lille president Gerrard Lopez had told Tuttosport.
However, the Ivorian winger chose the Emirates instead of Naples. And now, in a cruel twist of fate, he might be sold to structure a proper deal for Osimhen.