Arsenal transfer the right move for £94m man, says Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker, September 2023
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Victor Osimhen should leave Napoli for Arsenal this summer, according to Gary Lineker.

The Nigeria striker, 25 – who has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in recent years – will depart the Italian club this summer, according to owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

And Lineker thinks the Gunners would be the perfect fit for the man whose goals fired Napoli to the Serie A title last season and scooped him the Italian top-flight's top-scorer prize.

NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 27: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli before the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 27, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

Osimhen has scored 39 goals in 57 appearances in all competitions since the start of last season (Image credit: Getty Images)

"I think I'd look at it [the situation] and I'd go, at the moment, Arsenal," Lineker said on his podcast, The Rest Is Football. "Obviously, we're talking about everyone offering the same thing – that's what you want, blah blah blah in your contract.

"I mean, to be honest, they [players] 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 [and signed Rasmus Hojlund for £72m just last summer]. If I were him [Osimhen], you want to go somewhere where you think you're going to win things."

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST - JANUARY 14: Victor Osimhen of Nigeria celebrates with Ademola Lookman after scoring the equalising goal for 1-1 during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations group stage match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 14, 2024. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Osimhen has been leading the line for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lineker's comments come after Di Laurentiis suggested that Osimhen would join "Real Madrid, PSG or a top English club".

As for Osimhen – who is currently valued at €110m (£94m) by Transfermarkthe seems to have it all planned out, insisting, "I know what I want to do with my career".

Does that involve joining Arsenal? We might not have to wait too much longer to find out...

More transfer stories from FourFourTwo

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Meanwhile, Manchester United have been linked with a wonderkid already on Liverpool's radar.

And Pep Guardiola has made some controversial remarks on Manchester City's transfer plans.

Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...