Napoli are interested in Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus as a replacement for Victor Osimhen

Arsenal has entered the race to sign Napoli’s striker Victor Osimhen in the upcoming January transfer window. The Nigerian forward is growing increasingly discontented in Naples and has declined to extend his contract with the Italian champions. Napoli is prepared to offload their star striker as his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.

Osimhen is currently weighing his options, including the possibility of taking legal action against his club, after a derogatory TikTok video was posted by Napoli last month. This video emerged following Osimhen’s penalty miss against Bologna in Serie A, a pivotal moment in the game, and a rare slip-up for the 24-year-old striker, who had already netted six goals in all competitions this season.

Although Osimhen rebounded by starting and scoring in Napoli’s 4-1 victory against Udinese in the subsequent match, he chose not to take the penalty awarded to his team.

During the summer transfer window, Manchester United had expressed interest in signing Osimhen but ultimately opted for Rasmus Hojlund. Napoli also turned down a reported £120 million bid from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, which included a staggering weekly wage package of £1 million.

Napoli has until the end of next summer to offload the forward, as he has made it clear that he won’t be signing a contract extension. Reports suggest that Napoli would demand more than £130 million for Osimhen, who finished as the top scorer in Serie A last season, helping Napoli clinch the league title.

Calciomercato, an Italian outlet, has reported that Napoli has an eye on Arsenal’s forward, Gabriel Jesus, for a potential move next summer and might be open to discussing a swap deal involving Victor Osimhen with Arsenal. However, it appears unlikely that Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, would entertain the idea of allowing Jesus to move to Italy, even in exchange for Osimhen. Jesus is a pivotal figure in Arsenal’s attacking setup, and while Osimhen would undoubtedly be an attractive prospect for any club with the necessary transfer funds, he brings a distinct attacking style to the Gunners.