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Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta plans to boost his attacking regiment by signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen next summer, according to reports. And the 24-year-old – widely considered one of Europe’s elite goalscorers – is said to be keen on a Premier League switch.
However, Napoli reportedly set a hefty asking price worth around £150million under previous interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Gunners may have to analyse their own player pool for potential options to sweeten the deal and convince Napoli to sell.
Express Sport looks at three players Arteta could offer the Serie A champions to help lure Osimhen to the Emirates Stadium.
Nuno Tavares
Nuno Tavares struggled in his first season at Arsenal after joining from Benfica in a £7m deal in 2021.
Arteta remained unconvinced after a season-long loan at Marseille last term, sending him to Nottingham Forest this summer.
But he has made just three appearances for the Premier League strugglers since his switch and looks to have no future at Arsenal.
Napoli could do with a younger option, with Mathias Olivera and Mario Rui both suffering injury woes this season. Tavares wouldn’t make up a significant chunk of the transfer fee, though.
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Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey was an important fixture of Arteta’s Premier League title challengers last season, making 40 appearances.
But injuries have restricted him to just five games this term, with Declan Rice taking over as Arsenal’s midfield general.
Partey is expected to miss the remainder of 2023 and has been increasingly linked with an exit, potentially to Saudi Arabia.
But the Gunners – who paid £45m to sign him from Atletico Madrid in 2020 – could offer him to Napoli as part of an exchange for his fellow African native.
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Jorginho
Jorginho was a backup option in January when Arsenal failed to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, but he always looked to be a short-term fix.
The 31-year-old has only started four Premier League games this season and may look for a new challenge in the twilight of his career next summer.
A return to Napoli could appeal to him six years after leaving for Chelsea in 2018, potentially making him the key to Osimhen’s north London arrival.
Like Tavares, though, he would unlikely contribute much to knocking off much of the fee Napoli will demand for their star man.
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