Arsenal initiate contact with £83m-rated striker, with Edu masterclass required to seal statement signing

Arsenal are the frontrunners to sign Napoli hotshot Victor Osimhen this summer and have made the first move, though a journalist has revealed why a summer swoop won’t be easy.

Arsenal’s season has run aground in recent weeks. The Gunners had looked on course to finish inside the top four and secure the riches that would result from Champions League qualification.

However, three successive league defeats to mid-table teams have given them a mountain to climb. What’s more, the difficulty of their upcoming matches is poised to spike with Chelsea, Man Utd and West Ham next up.

The Gunners have scored just once in their last three and a lack of end product is threatening to derail their season completely.

Neither Alexandre Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah have found the net with regularity this season. The pair are both free agents on June 30 and could take Arsenal’s striker exits over the last six months to three after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona in January.

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As such, Arsenal have been linked with a whole host of strikers, including Napoli ace Victor Osimhen.

The Nigeria international is quickly becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand forwards. Links with a Premier League switch have swelled of late, with Newcastle, Man Utd and Arsenal all touted.

But according to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal are deemed to be ‘in the lead’ for his signature. A €100m (£83m) price