Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has backed the Gunners to make a move for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in January, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Premier League leaders have been heavily linked with a £70m move for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, but Petit believes his former club could spring a surprise by moving for Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.
“I really like Osimhen,” Petit told talkSPORT. “He’s actually in Turkey at the moment with Galatasaray. I think he’s on the radar of PSG actually.
“Who knows? It’s difficult in transfer windows in January to get the big names coming, but with the new format of the Champions League, maybe something could be possible.”
However, Napoli director Giovanni Manna has dismissed reports of a January move for the 25-year-old striker, insisting no club has approached them about activating his €75m release clause.
“I already said many times that nobody has talked to us. Victor is owned by Napoli and currently playing for Galatasaray. I think a lot has been said about this, nothing is happening,” Manna told DAZN.
The Nigeria international has been in impressive form since joining Galatasaray on loan, netting 10 goals and providing five assists in 13 appearances across all competitions, helping the Turkish giants maintain a six-point lead at the top of the Super Lig.
Recent reports suggested that Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United were also considering triggering Osimhen’s release clause, with PSG viewing him as a potential solution to their attacking woes under Luis Enrique.
The development comes as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hinted at potential “surprises” in the January transfer window during his Friday press conference, with the club reportedly seeking attacking reinforcements amid Gabriel Jesus’ goal drought.
Osimhen’s loan deal with the Turkish champions reportedly includes a January break clause that could allow Arsenal to make a mid-season move for the striker, whose latest goal came in Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory at Sivasspor.