Reports from Italy suggest that Napoli is considering the acquisition of either Emile Smith Rowe or Takehiro Tomiyasu as a potential part of the deal for Arsenal’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen.
Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, had previously indicated that Osimhen might depart the club, with potential destinations including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or a Premier League team.
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Despite the possibility of moving to the Saudi Pro League, the 25-year-old striker, who netted 15 goals in Serie A, prefers to stay in Europe.
Corriere dello Sport has indicated that Napoli is yet to receive any bids for Osimhen and is looking to secure a transfer fee close to his €130 million (£110.8m) release clause.
Osimhen is reportedly eyeing a switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal emerging as a recent contender for his signature.
To mitigate the steep asking price for Osimhen, Napoli is interested in two of Mikel Arteta’s players—Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu.
The latter was a target for Napoli in the January transfer window before committing to a new contract with Arsenal in March.
Smith Rowe has found limited opportunities under Arteta this season, with only three Premier League starts to his name. Arsenal is open to considering offers for Smith Rowe, and Fulham has identified the 23-year-old as a key transfer target.
Chelsea is also in the race for Osimhen as the summer transfer window approaches, although the financial implications of such a high-value transfer, encompassing both the fee and wages, are yet to be determined.
‘I think there is genuine interest between both,’ former Chelsea player, John Obi Mikel, said of Osimhen in February.
‘I think he loves the club, he wants to come to the club.’
