Mikel Arteta and Co. issued clear message over potential record-signing of goal-machine

Reporter Iomie Stanley doesn’t believe Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen would be an upgrade compared to Gabriel Jesus.

It is no secret that Arsenal have been eyeing a move for Osimhen even before Mikel Arteta took over as boss – but have been unable to get a deal done as Napoli had no intention of letting him leave.

The transfer speculation has continued this season as ARSENAL FC were still keen to sign a big-time striker – but with the financial fair play rules catching everybody out – no deals have really been done this month.

The 25-year-old penned a new deal in Naples in December, but it is said to include a release clause of £112m – and it now looks like Napoli are willing to cash in on the star after he asdmitted that he would like to move on.

However – despite the many reports which have claimed that he would be an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus – Stanley has sent a surprising message over a potential Gunners deal for the player.

He said: ‘Osimhen, also a top player. Maybe a little bit more pragmatic in front of goal than Gabriel Jesus. I don’t think he’d necessarily be an upgrade.

‘He’s a different type of player [than Jesus]. Osimhen doesn’t drift as wide as Jesus. His movement, dragging defenders out of position and he’s making a lot of runs behind, stretching the block. He’s a key player for Arsenal’s success.

‘Osimhen is more of a target man and Mikel Arteta would have to change the way that attack plays to fit the big man into his side.’

Pundit Gary Lineker recently opened up and told the big striker that a move to ARSENAL FC may be the best switch to make.

He told the Rest is Football podcast: “I think I’d look at it and I’d go, at the moment, Arsenal.

“Obviously, we’re talking about everyone offers the same thing, that’s what you want, blah blah blah in your contract. I mean, to be honest, they earn so much now that you can just choose where you want to go.

“I would say, Arsenal are probably a centre-forward away from winning things. Chelsea are a centre-forward away from becoming competitive again. Manchester United are a centre-forward away from improving, but they’ve still got a long way to go.

“If I were him, you want to go somewhere where you think you’re going to win things.”

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