the italian champion napoli has his sights set on Folarin Balogun as a possible replacement for Victor Osimhen, according to recent reports. Arsenal, the current club of the 21-year-old striker, would be demanding a figure of £30 million to part with him.
The Daily Mirror reports that Napoli are watching Balogun closely as they see him as a potential replacement for Osimhen. The Nigerian striker has been linked with a possible departure from the club after his outstanding season, in which he has scored 30 goals in all competitions and has been instrumental in Napoli’s league title win and arrival at the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
Napoli looks at a crack from Ligue 1 to replace Osimhen
There is no doubt that Osimhen has become one of the best strikers in the world today, so it is not surprising that several of the top European clubs are interested in signing him. It will be interesting to see if Napoli manage to sign Balogun as his replacement.
The Arsenal youngster has had a prolific season while on loan at Stade Reims, where he has scored 21 goals in all competitions. His arrival at Napoli could be an excellent long-term acquisition. Worth an estimated £30 million, the Italian club will likely be able to cope with this figure if they finally part with Osimhen.
Balogun could look to leave Arsenal this summer for a chance to play regularly for the first team. Mikel Arteta is unlikely to place him ahead of Gabriel Jesus up front, so it makes sense for the 21-year-old to seek new horizons. Although Arsenal will want to retain this talented prospect, they may not be able to prevent him from leaving, especially if they can’t guarantee him enough playing time.
In recent years, Napoli have proven adept at developing young talents like Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. They could play a significant role in helping the Arsenal youngster develop into a prolific striker in seasons to come.
In the meantime, Arsenal could be willing to part with this promising talent despite his potential, especially if they have other strikers in mind, such as Elye Wahi. Capitalizing on local talent could prove beneficial for the London club as they look to bolster their squad