5 months ago
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Napoli would be open to signing Emile Smith Rowe or Takehiro Tomiyasu as part of Arsenal’s move for Victor Osimhen, according to reports in Italy.
Osimhen was expected to leave Napoli at the end of the season with the Italian club’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, claiming in January that the striker would move on to either Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or a Premier League side this summer.
The 25-year-old, who scored 15 goals in Serie A this season, also has the option of joining the Saudi Pro League but his preference is to remain in Europe.
However, Corriere dello Sport reports that Napoli have not received any offers for Osimhen with the Serie A club keen to receive a fee in the region of his €130 million (£110.8m) release clause.
The report claims that Osimhen is targeting a move to the Premier League and Arsenal have ‘recently resurfaced’ as one of the clubs who are interested in a deal.
It’s claimed that to offset the high cost of a bid for Osimhen, Napoli are interested in two players from Mikel Arteta’s squad – Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu – who they wanted in the January transfer window before the Japan international signed a new contract in March.
Smith Rowe, meanwhile, struggled for playing time under Arteta this season, starting just three games in the Premier League.
It’s understood that Arsenal would be willing to listen to offers for Smith Rowe this summer and Fulham have already made the 23-year-old one of their priority transfer targets.
Chelsea have also shown interest in Osimhen ahead of the summer window although it remains unclear how the club would finance a move which involves such high costs in transfer fee and wages.
‘I think there is genuine interest between both,’ former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, said of Osimhen in February.
‘I think he loves the club, he wants to come to the club.’
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