Unexpected: Victor Osimhen finally makes next transfer decision to hand Chelsea and Arsenal early summer blow

Unexpected: Victor Osimhen finally makes next transfer decision to hand Chelsea and Arsenal early summer blow

Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target Victor Osimhen will reportedly turn down a move to the Premier League to instead join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

According to the agent representing Thiago Motta, current head coach at Bologna, the Napoli striker has told Roberto Calenda to start the groundwork for a move to the French giants.

Dario Canovi, who represents Motta, has claimed that the Nigeria international would prefer to return to Ligue 1 instead of the Premier League. Osimhen has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea and Arsenal as both teams prioritise a striker at the end of the season.

“In my view, it is very likely he will play for Paris Saint-Germain,” Canovi told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. “It would be the smartest signing to replace Kylian Mbappe, who has been a Real Madrid player for months and it’s a farce that they are trying to avoid telling us.”

Osimhen only signed a new contract at Napoli at the start of the year. However, the extension isn’t expected to keep him in Italy beyond this summer.

According to Football Italia, the release clause in his deal is expected to be around €130million (£111m). Chelsea have already flexed their capability to spend big on their targets while Arsenal paid over £100million last summer for Declan Rice.

However, Mbappe’s imminent move to Real Madrid is set to give PSG a financial boost to tempt Osimhen to Ligue 1. Despite losing Mbappe for free at the end of his contract, they are expected to save around £171million a year on the wages for the France striker.