Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal chief Edu 'reserves £43m transfer fee' for red-hot Victor Osimhen alternative
Mikel Arteta and Edu have already started planning for Arsenal's summer transfer window.
Arsenal sporting director Edu has already set aside the funds he believes are needed to sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, according to reports. Fellow attacking target Victor Osimhen recently suggested that he will look to leave Napoli at the end of the season, but there is no guarantee the Gunners will win the race for his signature.
Chelsea are also hot on the heels of Osimhen, who set tongues wagging with his recent comments at the Africa Cup of Nations. "I have already made my decision on the next step to do at the end of the season," he said.
"I already made up my mind. I already have my plan, I know what I want to do, the next step I want to take." The Nigerian signed a new Napoli contract in December which contains a £112million release clause.
Zirkzee, by comparison, would be considerably cheaper. And Edu is reportedly putting plans in place to snap up the Bologna forward during the summer transfer window.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Gunners have 'set aside' £43m for their bid at the end of the season. However, Bologna are expected to demand a heftier sum because 40 per cent of the fee will go to Bayern Munich as part of the agreement that brought him to Italy in the first place.
Bayern also have the option to buy Zirkzee back for just over £34m, but Thomas Tuchel is already spoilt for choice with Harry Kane, Mathys Tel and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting competing for minutes up top.
Read more...
Man Utd icon Roy Keane names job that 'appeals' to him as managerial return eyed [LATEST]
Tottenham chief Johan Lange can use £49m triple sale to fund final January deal [TRANSFERS]
Man Utd could ask for three Barcelona players in Mason Greenwood swap deal [COMMENT]
Bologna are understood to value Zirkzee higher than Arsenal's touted bid due to the £72m Manchester United paid for Rasmus Hojlund back in August. The Dane, 20, scored nine Serie A goals for Atalanta last term, while 22-year-old Zirkzee is already up to seven.
Standing at a towering 6ft 4in, Netherlands Under-21 international Zirkzee moved from his homeland to Bayern's academy while still a teenager. He already has experience of playing in Germany, Italy and Belgium.
If Arsenal's interest in Osimhen and Zirkzee comes to nothing, Mikel Arteta is also believed to be keen on Ivan Toney. The Brentford striker has made no secret of the fact he wants to test his talent at the very top level.
"You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it's obvious I want to play for a top club," he told Sky Sports. "Everybody wants to play for a top club that is fighting for titles."