Arsenal target move for Chelsea's PERFECT Osimhen alternative

Robin Bairner

• 3 Jan 2024 07:07 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal could disrupt Chelsea’s January transfer window by making a move for striker Victor Boniface, the player who is a perfect alternative to the Blues for Victor Osimhen.

Both London giants have targeted a striker for the month ahead, with Arsenal and Chelsea both scouting similar players.

The duo have both looked at signing Ivan Toney from Brentford, but as FootballTransfers revealed, the Gunners have no intention of matching the England forward’s £100 million asking price.

Napoli striker Osimhen is another player who is coveted by the Premier League sides yet the Nigeria international is poised to sign a new deal with the Serie A side that will keep him in Italy until the summer, at which point he is set to have a huge release clause active.

Arsenal continue to covet Santos forward Marcos Leonardo but want another more experienced option and have turned their attentions to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker Boniface, according to CBS Sports.

The 23-year-old, who has an Expected Transfer Value (ETV) of €30 million, has been prolific for Xabi Alonso’s side this season, bagging 16 goals and eight assists across all competitions so far this season.

Boniface has strong transfer options

Boniface would be better off waiting for Chelsea to move, according to data analytics firm SciSports, who believe that the Blues are the perfect destination for him.

The Stamford Bridge outfit gets a Club Fit score of 89 using SciSports’ Career Advice tool, scoring strongly across the board.

Although Arsenal are only ranked as Boniface’s 13th-best option, the Gunners are also well suited to the Nigeria international forward. They receive a Club Fit score of 80, which is still a very commendable figure. Indeed, SciSports believe that in the long term, Boniface could develop into a key player at the Emirates.

Where Mikel Arteta’s side are considered a weaker option for the forward than Chelsea is over his playing time. Boniface is not considered to be an improvement in what the Gunners already have, although they do offer him the opportunity to unlock more potential in his game.

Another club worth monitoring in this transfer is Real Madrid, who have a Club Fit of 87. Los Blancos are also monitoring the possibility of signing a striker and Boniface ticks many boxes for them.