Arsenal and PSG want Napoli to lower Osimhen’s release clause

Arsenal have made it clear to Napoli that they will not meet Victor Osimhen’s €130 million (£110.8m) release clause.

Mikel Arteta is looking to add a new striker to his squad after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title this season.

It’s understood that RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga this season, is one of the top candidates on Arsenal’s shortlist and is available due to a €65m (£55.2m) release clause.

However, Sky Sports Italy report that while Arsenal hold Osimhen in high regard, they are unwilling to push ahead with a deal due to the high costs involved.

Napoli has been open to selling Osimhen for several months but the club’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is holding out for a team to trigger the Nigeria international’s €130m (£110.8m) clause.

However, Napoli has received no concrete proposals that come near that figure, and while Saudi Pro League clubs could afford such a high fee, Osimhen is keen on remaining in Europe.

Napoli could now decide to lower Osimhen’s asking price, especially as they need the 25-year-old’s transfer fee to fund their new signings this summer.

The Serie A club are keen to reunite their new head coach Antonio Conte with Romelu Lukaku, who returns to Chelsea following a season on loan at Roma.

However, Chelsea are insisting that Lukaku’s £38m release clause is met and the club believes that Osimhen would need to depart Napoli before the Italian side could move for the Belgian.

Chelsea have also previously shown strong interest in Osimhen but have ruled themselves out of the running to sign the striker this summer due to his high transfer fee and concerns over his injury record.

Still on Osimhen, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his directors have been in direct with Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis to discuss a deal for Osimhen.

As reported by Il Mattino via, Al-Khelaifi and the club’s directors have been in direct contact with De Laurentiis in recent hours, working to try and find a deal for Osimhen.

The relationship between the two presidents is strong and the Parisian giants are now seemingly in pole position in the race for the Nigerian striker’s signature. The recent departure of Kylian Mbappe has increased their need for a statement signing this summer.