Arsenal in excellent position to sign Napoli superstar – and break their transfer record AGAIN: report

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session at London Colney on July 03, 2023 in St Albans, England.
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal are in a superb position to land a Napoli superstar, according to one incredible report, which suggests the Gunners could smash their transfer record again.

The north Londoners broke into the piggy bank this summer to bring Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium from West Ham United, in a deal which has defined the window. The 24-year-old cost £105 million, breaking not just Arsenal's four-year record but the British transfer record, too.

But Arsenal – who are not traditionally among the biggest spenders in the Premier League's elite – could make another nine-figure transfer in the near-future, as they look to improve their squad even further.

Arsenal latest signing Declan Rice at London Colney on July 15, 2023 in St Albans, England.

Declan Rice became not just Arsenal's record signing but a British record (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

According to an exclusive from Football Transfers, Mikel Arteta's side are boosted by current Scudetto holders Napoli appointing former Spezio chief Mauro Meluso as their new sporting director. 

Arsenal are believed to have an excellent relationship with Meluso and according to the report, could well do business with him again. It was Meluso who "tipped Arsenal off" about Jakub Kiwior while at Spezia, whom they signed in January. 

The report suggests that the Gunners could be primed to land Georgian wide man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before the transfer window is up – given that Napoli are set to keep Victor Osimhen. Kvaratskhelia, however, signed a new contract relatively recently and Arsenal already have plenty of competition on the left wing.

What seems far more likely, however, is that the 13-time English champions launch a marquee bid for Osimhen next summer. One of Eddie Nketiah or Gabriel Jesus would likely move on, with Arteta evolving his side further to accomodate a killer striker, the like of which he been without in recent seasons. 

Victor Osimhen of Nigeria sings the Nigerian national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on March 29, 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Victor Osimhen could be a prime Arsenal target next summer (Image credit: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal were said to be interested in Kvaratskhelia when he played for Rubin Kazan, while Osimhen rejected a move to north London in 2015.

Osimhen is valued by Transfermarkt to be worth €120m.

More Arsenal stories

Arsenal transfer news is ramping up this summer, with the Gunners spending £200m early in the window. 

The Gunners could be targeting two more Manchester City players, according to reports. Xavi Simons is on the radar and Ivan Fresneda could join, though Arsenal could sell £100m worth of players, too. Romeo Lavia is in the crosshairs – though Liverpool want him, tooTakehiro Tomiyasu is set for an "intriguing switch", while Moises Caicedo looks Chelsea-bound

Arsenal are believed to want another right-winger, while Gabri Veiga favours Arsenal over Spurs

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.