'It's important to reiterate' - Fabrizio Romano reacts to reports linking Osimhen with January move to Arsenal

Arsenal have reportedly joined their London rivals Chelsea in the race for the signature of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian has been on the radar of so many high profile clubs on the back of his goalscoring exploits for the Italian champions.

Arsenal are top of the Premier League with a point clear but it could climax with something that might look like a repetition of last season's woes where the Gunners were eventually unable to scoop the league title, losing out to a well orchestrated Manchester City side who were phenomenal under Pep Guardiola.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta might be tempted to believe his centre-forwards have been a bit wobbly due to their inconsistency, hence he is reportedly in the market for a new marksman who can average double figures every season and believes that Osimhen might be the man for the job in the midst of other candidates.

Italian journalist and transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano has once again played down reports of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner making a January transfer to the Premier League, saying it would be extremely difficult for a move of such magnitude to materialize at that time of the season.

"I'm aware there have been some reports linking Arsenal with Victor Osimhen, and this follows some outlets claiming the Napoli striker's agent held talks with the Gunners around a year ago," Romano was quoted as saying by TEAMtalk.

"We know that Arsenal and Chelsea are both keeping an eye on strikers for 2024, so it's normal to see these links.

"But it's important to reiterate that it's very difficult to consider those links for January because Napoli insist they don't want to sell him in the middle of the season.

"For the summer, anything can happen but it isn't being decided now for sure."

The Nigerian striker has mustered 65 goals in 112 appearances since landing at Napoli from French club Lille in 2020.

Ejim Kaycee

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