Edu reserves £43m transfer fee for Victor Osimhen alternative in Arsenal’s latest news
Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, has reportedly earmarked funds to sign Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee. This comes after Victor Osimhen, another target for Arsenal, expressed his desire to leave Napoli at the end of the season. However, Chelsea is also pursuing Osimhen, adding competition for his signature. Osimhen recently made comments at the Africa Cup of Nations, indicating that he has already made a decision on his next move. Despite signing a new contract with Napoli, the Nigerian has a release clause of £112 million. In contrast, Zirkzee would be a more affordable option for Arsenal. Edu is said to be planning to secure the Bologna forward during the summer transfer window.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal has set aside £43 million for their bid for Zirkzee. However, Bologna is expected to demand a higher amount as 40% of the fee would go to Bayern Munich due to their previous agreement. Bayern also has the option to buy Zirkzee back for over £34 million, but Thomas Tuchel already has several striking options at Chelsea. Bologna values Zirkzee higher than Arsenal’s potential bid, citing the £72 million Manchester United paid for Rasmus Hojlund as a benchmark. Zirkzee, a 22-year-old Netherlands Under-21 international, has scored seven Serie A goals for Bologna this season. Standing at 6ft 4in, Zirkzee has experience playing in Germany, Italy, and Belgium, having moved to Bayern’s academy from the Netherlands as a teenager.
If Arsenal’s pursuits for Osimhen and Zirkzee are unsuccessful, Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in Ivan Toney from Brentford. Toney has openly expressed his desire to test his talent at a top-level club.
