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Manager confirms Arsenal-linked striker has agreement with current club

Manager confirms Arsenal-linked striker has agreement with current club
Manager confirms Arsenal-linked striker has agreement with current club

New Napoli manager Antonio Conte has confirmed that Victor Osimhen has an agreement with the club on his future, amid Arsenal links.

UDINE, ITALY - MAY 06: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Udinese Calcio and SSC Napoli at Dacia Arena on May 06, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Antonio Conte has been speaking to the media in his new role as Napoli head coach, and he’s made a point of highlighting a number of players he considers non-transferable this summer.

Yet, interestingly, Conte didn’t include Victor Osimhen on that list. When questioned about the player’s future, the coach suggested it wasn’t entirely within his control.

“I’m aware of his situation, I know there’s an agreement with the club so it’s a different case compared to others,” Conte said.

“There’s a pact between Victor and Napoli on his future and I accepted that.”

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match Napoli vs Sporting Braga at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples on December 12, 2023. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match Napoli vs Sporting Braga at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples on December 12, 2023. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reports that Osimhen is expected to leave Napoli this summer, and there have been links to Arsenal in the past. Though recent reports suggested the Gunners are not currently considering a bid.

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider claims Osimhen does have admirers at Arsenal, but his price tag is viewed as prohibitive.

The striker has a £113m release clause, and it’s believed Napoli would accept an offer of around £90m, but even that is too much for the Gunners.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates after winning 2-0 the UEFA Champions League Group C football match Napoli vs Sporting Braga at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples on December 12, 2023. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen celebrates after winning 2-0 the UEFA Champions League Group C football match Napoli vs Sporting Braga at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples on December 12, 2023. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

The links between Arsenal and Osimhen also primarily stemmed from the Italian media, with English outlets never really picking them up.

Osimhen scored 17 goals and assisted four in 32 games this season amid a couple of injury setbacks and his month-long run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.