Arsenal Resume Push For Victor Osimhen, Benitez Reveals Alonso Almost Join Gunners

Arsenal’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen has resurfaced as the club engages in fresh talks with the player’s representatives.

Victor Osimhen is expected to exit Napoli this summer with just a few days remaining in the summer transfer window.

Osimhen’s substantial release clause which is worth around £110 million, had previously posed a challenge in Arsenal’s earlier attempt to sign the Nigerian star.

However, according to reports from Italian publication, Il Mattino, Arsenal have rekindled their interest in Osimhen.

As of now, an official bid from Arsenal to Napoli is yet to be submitted, indicating the club’s cautious approach in assessing their options before making a formal offer for the 25-year-old Nigeria international.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that the current manager of Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, had an agreement to join Arsenal in 2009.

After representing Liverpool for five successful years, including a Champions League victory in 2005, Alonso went on to play for top clubs such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

While speaking on the Sky Bet Stick to Football podcast, coach Benitez who was Alonso’s manager at Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, said the former Spanish midfielder almost didn’t play a Champions League game for the club because of his agreement with Arsenal.

File photo of Rafael Benítez and Xabi Alonso during their days together at Liverpool.

Benitez said: “We played Standard de Liege for a Champions League qualifier, and we had Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva in the Olympic Games; Steven Gerrard had a lower back problem, so we had to play [Damien] Plessis and Xabi.

“Xabi had an agreement with Arsenal and didn’t want to get up-tied.

“I told Jamie Carragher and Gerrard before the game that he had an agreement and doesn’t want to play, but he must because it is the most important game to qualify for the Champions League. Then when you were going out for the warm-ups, you said, ‘Poor Xabi.’ Not poor Xabi, he is playing for our club at this time. During the season he was our best player and didn’t go to Arsenal because he had to play [for us].‌”