Arsenal unlikely to make Osimhen or any striker transfer in January – Ornstein

Suraj Radia

Updated: 13 Oct 2023 11:50 BST
4 min read

Arsenal are unlikely to make a move for Victor Osimhen or any striker in January according to David Ornstein, despite speculation linking them to the Napoli superstar.

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The Gunners are joint-top of the Premier League and undefeated after eight games but most their goals have come from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard rather than Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.

With Arsenal having narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, Mikel Arteta is desperate not to have any excuses or signs of weakness this time around and there was some hope from supporters that a physical goalscorer would be targeted in January.

SIGN THEM!: Arteta told to target Premier League pair with Osimhen money

However, writing in his Q&A column for The Athletic, Ornstein stated his belief that a striker was more likely to be considered next summer instead, although he ‘didn’t see’ a move for Osimhen happening despite the 24-year-old likely being on Arsenal’s shortlist.

“In terms of price and profile, I don’t see Arsenal going for Osimhen. I suspect the Napoli striker is on their list, as he will be for all the top sides,” Ornstein wrote.

“I don’t think Arsenal are focusing on recruiting a striker in January. That is more likely to be on the agenda next summer.”

Arsenal unlikely to pounce on Osimhen’s uncertain future at Napoli

Jesus and Nketiah have just three Premier League goals between them so far this season, while Osimhen’s recent fallout with Napoli fuelled speculation that he could force an exit from the Italian side in the coming months.

Napoli posted a series of unflattering TikToks about Osimhen, which led to fury from the Nigerian and a hold on talks to extend his contract, which is due to expire in 2025.

:speaking_head_in_silhouette:Gary Neville says #Arsenal would win the league with Erling Haaland in our team: “Jesus and Nketiah work their socks off, but in terms of quality will that be enough to win the league? My only doubt is a centre-forward, if Arsenal had Haaland or they had Kane I would be saying… pic.twitter.com/Qlh6r8ed8C
— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) October 11, 2023

Osimhen has been vocal about his desire to eventually play in the Premier League but Napoli priced him out of a move this summer, with reports that they would not consider any offer below €150 million.

RESPONSE: Osimhen issues statement after Napoli social media controversy

The pricetag is unlikely to be much lower next summer even with him entering the final year of his contract, meaning Arsenal could focus on more affordable targets such as Ivan Toney, with Ornstein name checking the Brentford striker as one of many players who most clubs will likely be considering.

He said: “The pool of quality strikers is so small that any big club looking to sign one in January or next summer are likely to be studying the same names — Osimhen, Lautaro Martinez, Ivan Toney, Ferguson, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Boniface among them.”