Victor Osimhen could come to Mikel Arteta’s rescue in the transfer market almost a decade after rejecting a move to Arsenal as a teenager.
The Napoli striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has enjoyed a fruitful season in Turkey with 14 goals across all competitions as the reigning champions sit top of the league.
His temporary stint with the Turkish giants came about after failed transfers to Al-Ahli and Chelsea last summer. It left the Nigerian international banished from first-team training with the Italian giants, at the request of Napoli boss Antonio Conte.
With the 26-year-old’s future uncertain upon his return to Naples this summer, Osimhen has been touted as one player Arteta could target in an attempt to solve his striker issues.
With injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners boss doesn’t have the most potent attacking options at his disposal. A move for Osimhen would come almost a decade after he rejected a transfer to the north London side in favour of signing for Wolfsburg.
At just 17 years of age, the striker impressed the Bundesliga outfit after clinching the top scorer award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup – which Nigeria won – and signed for the club in January 2017.
Speaking after agreeing to his pre-contract club, Osimhen admitted he turned down the Premier League giants in order to develop as a player. “It’s true that a big team like Arsenal wanted me and I feel honoured to be invited over. But personally I feel Wolfsburg is a ladder for me to reach my professional goals,” he told BBC Sport.
“Yes Arsenal is a good team for young players but Wolfsburg is the best club for me. This the best place for me to learn and develop because my heart is here with Wolfsburg. The club’s plan for my career is very encouraging and I believe with God on my side I can grow to become one of the best players in the world,” he added.
Arteta admitted in light of the injuries his team have suffered, he may need to “adapt” their transfer plans which could mean bringing in a goalscorer with fans preferably hoping any arrival comes this month.
“We never just plan ‘a window’,” he said. “We have a plan, we look at the squad, how we are going to evolve it, what we have in the academy, how we are going to change and adapt.
“From there, what you plan and the picture that we have… either we are really bad at planning or nobody could see we would have that many injuries. You have to adapt whatever the plan is.”
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